8620. Sodium Formaldehydesulfoxylate

Nomenclature

CAS number: 149-44-0
Hydroxymethanesulfinic acid sodium salt; formaldehyde sodium sulfoxylate; formaldehydesulfoxylic acid sodium salt; sodium hydroxymethanesulfinate; sodium methanalsulfoxylate; Aldanil; Rongalite; Rongalite C.
CH3NaO3S; mol wt 118.09.
C 10.17%, H 2.56%, Na 19.47%, O 40.65%, S 27.15%.
Na[HOCH2SO2].

Description and references

Prepn: Heyl, Greer, Am. J. Pharm. 94, 80 (1922); Binns, US 2013125 (1935 to Virginia Smelting); Postnikov, Kunin, J. Appl. Chem. USSR 13, 185 (1940). Structure of dihydrate: Truter, J. Chem. Soc. 1955, 3064; 1962, 3400. Of limited value in treatment of mercuric chloride poisoning: Modell et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 61, 66 (1937).

Derivative

Dihydrate.

Properties

Crystals, mp 63-64°, dec at higher temp. Odorless when freshly prepd, but quickly develops a characteristic (garlic) odor. Freely sol in water; practically insol in abs alcohol, ether, benzene. Readily dec by dil acids. Aq soln is practically neutral. Keep well closed in a cool place. LD s.c. in mice, 4.0 g/kg: Rosenthal, Public Health Rep. 49, 908 (1934).

Use

In vat color printing pastes: Borstelmann, Fordemwalt, US 2597281 (1952 to Am. Cyanamid). In polymerization of ethylenic compds: GB 816252; GB 852593 (1959 to Hercules Powder; 1960 to Air Reduction). In manuf of arsphenamines: Krumwiede, J. Am. Pharm. Assoc. 8, 795 (1919); Heyl, Miller, ibid. 11, 432 (1922).

Therapeutic Category

Treatment of mercury poisoning.