Electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl groups were characterized in combination with hydrogen bond interactions in three polyols (i.e., CF3CH(OH)CH2CH(OH)CF3, 1; (CF3)(2)C(OH)C-(OH)(CF3)(2), 2; ((CF3)(2)C(OH)CH2)(2)CHOH, 3) by pK(a) measurements in DMSO and H2O, negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy and binding constant determinations with Cl-. Their catalytic behavior in several reactions were also examined and compared to a Bronsted acid (HOAc) and a commonly employed thiourea ((3,5-(CF3)(2)C6H3NH)(2)CS). The combination of inductive stabilization and hydrogen bonds was found to afford potent acids which are effective catalysts. It also appears that hydrogen bonds can transmit the inductive effect over distance even in an aqueous environment, and this has far reaching implications.