104 °C (hydrate)[1] Trifluoroacetaldehyde, trifluoroethanal, or fluoral,[2] is a fluorinated derivative of acetaldehyde with the formula CF3CHO.

[2][3] It is highly electrophilic and fluoral forms a hydrate CF3CH(OH)2 upon contact with water like other halogenated acetaldehydes.

[4] It is commonly used in form of ethyl hemiacetal (1-ethoxy-2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, CF3CH(OCH2CH3)(OH)) due to the aldehyde's high reactivity, including the tendency to polymerise.

[5] Upon storage, fluoral polymerises into a waxy, white solid that is soluble in diethyl ether and acetone but not water and chlorocarbons.

Cathodic reduction of bromotrifluoromethane in dimethylformamide with aluminium as anode gives high yields of fluoral.