Applications
Hafnium trifluoromethanesulfonate is a recyclable catalyst for the mononitration of o-nitrotoluene. It serves as a catalyst for homogeneous methoxycarbonylation and hydrocarboxylation reactions of phenylacetylene. It is also used as a reactant for direct Friedel-Crafts reactions of chromene hemiacetals, aminomethylation reactions under Lewis acidic conditions and prins-type cyclization reactions. It is also involved in the direct polycondensation of lactic acid. Further, it is used in cationic benzylation reactions, chemoselective thioacetalization and transthioacetalization of carbonyl compounds.

Solubility
Soluble in methyl cyanide, dicholomethane, dichloroethane, nitromethane, dioxane, terahydrofuran and toluene.

Notes
Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. Moisture sensitive.