A high‑performance alternative to TFA showing improved yields, homogeneity, safety and sustainability
Key Advantages
- Environmentally friendly: PFAS-free and biodegradable.
- High performance: up to 97% yield and 99% purity.
- Cost-effective: it is around 20% cheaper than TFA.
- Safer operations: non-volatile, reduced risk exposures.
- Versatile: works with complex peptides and multiple linkers.
- Compatible with standard solid phase workflows and common linkers.
Goal
Seeking a license agreement for integration into peptide manufacturing processes, but other collaborations may be considered.
Intellectual Property
European patent application filed (May 2026)
Reference
UBTT0543
Contact
Marc Salazar Badia
Email: msalazar@fbg.ub.edu
A high‑performance alternative to TFA showing improved yields, homogeneity, safety and sustainability
Executive summary
A research group, with wide experience in the R&D of peptide-based chemical entities has developed a novel, environmentally friendly and safer method for peptide cleavage in solid and liquid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS/LPPS).
Description
This technology provides an alternative approach for the final cleavage step in peptide synthesis, replacing the commonly used trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) with an alternative fluorine-free acid.
By using this new approach, the method improves performance and resin swelling, while significantly reducing the environmental impact and hazards associated with fluorinated reagents. The process has demonstrated high efficiency in terms of yield and purity across a wide range of peptides, including complex sequences.
In addition, the method is compatible with standard SPPS/LPPS workflows and can be combined with scavengers and strong acids to further optimize reaction conditions and outcomes. It can also be extended to other non-peptide molecules.
Why does it matter?
TFA is under increasing regulatory scrutiny due to its classification within PFAS substances, which are environmental damaging compounds.
Moreover, TFA has been facing strict restrictions throughout several industries. For instance, it is under intense regulatory scrutiny and facing potential bans in cosmetics due to environmental damage.
This creates supply chain and compliance risks, so there is an urgent need for alternatives that do not require new workflows nor compromise performance.
Current stage of development
The group has validated the method across multiple peptide classes, including complex sequences and multiple synthesis conditions and linker systems.