804. Arsenic Trioxide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 1327-53-3
Arsenic oxide (As2O3); arsenic(III) oxide; arsenous acid; arsenous acid anhydride; arsenous oxide; arsenic sesquioxide; white arsenic; Trisenox (Cell Therapeutics).
As2O3; mol wt 197.84.
As 75.74%, O 24.26%.

Description and references

Commercially important form of arsenic, q.v. By-product in the smelting of copper. Has been used in traditional medicine; induces apoptosis in leukemic cells. Prepn: Schenk in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry vol. 1, G. Brauer, Ed. (Academic Press, New York, 2nd ed., 1963) p 600. Studies of antileukemic mechanisms: Z. Chen et al., Pharmacol. Ther. 76, 141 (1997); J. Dai et al., Blood 93, 268 (1999). Clinical evaluation in acute promyelocytic leukemia: S. L. Soignet et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 339, 1341 (1998). Acute toxicity: J. Harrison et al., Arch. Ind. Health 17, 118 (1958). Review of production, properties and uses: S. C. Carapella, Jr. in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 3 (John Wiley & Sons, 4th ed., 1992) pp 626-629; G. O. Doak, ibid. pp 633-638. Review of use in glass industry: J. T. Kohli, Key Eng. Mater. 94-95, 363-378 (1994). Review of toxicology: A. K. Done, A. J. Peart, Clin. Toxicol. 4, 343-355 (1971); Cah. Notes Doc. 136, 543-548 (1989); and human exposure: Toxicological Profile for Arsenic (PB2000-108021, 2000) 468 pp.

Properties

Two crystalline modifications exist. Claudetite: thermodynamically stable, monoclinic form, mp 313°. Arsenolite: the commonly occurring, octahedral or cubic form; white solid, sublimes freely above 135°, mp 275°. bp 465°. Poisonous. Sparingly and extremely slowly sol in cold water; sol in 15 parts boiling water, in dil HCl, in alkali hydroxide or carbonate solns. Practically insol in alc, chloroform, ether. LD50 in mice, rats (mg/kg): 39.4, 15.1 orally (Harrison).

Use

Starting material for various arsenic compounds. Decolorizer and fining agent in manuf of glass. In wood preservatives, weed killers, rodenticides. As reductometric standard.

Therapeutic Category

Antineoplastic.

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

Has been used as ectoparasiticide.

Keywords

Antineoplastic