Arsenobetaine

Arsenobetaine
Structural formula of arsenobetaine
Ball-and-stick model of arsenobetaine
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
(Trimethylarsaniumyl)acetate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
3933180
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.162.654 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 634-697-3
KEGG
MeSH Arsenobetaine
RTECS number
  • CH9750000
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C5H11AsO2/c1-6(2,3)4-5(7)8/h4H2,1-3H3 ☒N
    Key: SPTHHTGLGVZZRH-UHFFFAOYSA-N ☒N
  • InChI=1/C5H11AsO2/c1-6(2,3)4-5(7)8/h4H2,1-3H3
    Key: SPTHHTGLGVZZRH-UHFFFAOYAQ
  • C[As+](C)(C)CC(=O)[O-]
  • C[As+](C)(C)CC([O-])=O
Properties
C5H11AsO2
Molar mass 177.99/ g.mol−1
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS06: ToxicGHS09: Environmental hazard
Danger
H301, H331, H410
P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P301+P310, P304+P340, P311, P321, P330, P391, P403+P233, P405, P501
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Arsenobetaine is an organoarsenic compound that is the main source of arsenic found in fish.[1][2][3][4] It is the arsenic analog of trimethylglycine, commonly known as betaine. The biochemistry and its biosynthesis are similar to those of choline and betaine.

Arsenobetaine is a common substance in marine biological systems and unlike many other organoarsenic compounds, such as trimethylarsine, it is relatively non-toxic.[5][6] The compound may play a similar role as urea does for nitrogen, as a non-toxic waste compound made in the bodies of animals to dispose of the relevant element.

It has been known since 1920 that marine fish contain organoarsenic compounds, but it was not until 1977 that the chemical structure of the most predominant compound arsenobetaine was determined.[7]

  1. ^ Maher, B. (2005). "Foreword: Research Front — Arsenic Biogeochemistry". Environmental Chemistry. 2 (3): 139–140. doi:10.1071/EN05063.
  2. ^ Francesconi, K. A. (2005). "Current Perspectives in Arsenic Environmental and Biological Research". Environmental Chemistry. 2 (3): 141–145. doi:10.1071/EN05042.
  3. ^ Adair, B. M.; Waters, S. B.; Devesa, V.; Drobna, Z.; Styblo, M.; Thomas, D. J. (2005). "Commonalities in Metabolism of Arsenicals". Environmental Chemistry. 2 (3): 161–166. doi:10.1071/EN05054.
  4. ^ Ng, J. C. (2005). "Environmental Contamination of Arsenic and its Toxicological Impact on Humans". Environmental Chemistry. 2 (3): 146–160. doi:10.1071/EN05062.
  5. ^ Gaion A, Sartori D, Scuderi A, Fattorini D (2014). "Bioaccumulation and biotransformation of arsenic compounds in Hediste diversicolor (Muller 1776) after exposure to spiked sediments". Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 21 (9): 5952–5959. doi:10.1007/s11356-014-2538-z. PMID 24458939. S2CID 12568097.
  6. ^ Bhattacharya, P.; Welch, A. H.; Stollenwerk, K. G.; McLaughlin, M. J.; Bundschuh, J.; Panaullah, G. (2007). "Arsenic in the Environment: Biology and Chemistry". Science of the Total Environment. 379 (2–3): 109–120. Bibcode:2007ScTEn.379..109B. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.02.037. PMID 17434206.
  7. ^ Edmonds, J. S.; Francesconi, K. A.; Cannon, J. R.; Raston, C. L.; Skelton, B. W.; White, A. H. (1977). "Isolation, Crystal Structure and Synthesis of Arsenobetaine, the Arsenical Constituent of the Western Rock Lobster Panulirus longipes cygnus George". Tetrahedron Letters. 18 (18): 1543–1546. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(01)93098-9.