9317. Thimerosal

Nomenclature

CAS number: 54-64-8
Ethyl[2-mercaptobenzoato(2)-O,S]mercurate(1) sodium; [(o-carboxyphenyl)thio]ethylmercury sodium salt; sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate; thiomersalate; mercurothiolate; Merthiolate (Lilly); Merzonin (Takeda); Vitaseptol (Faure).
C9H9HgNaO2S; mol wt 404.81.
C 26.70%, H 2.24%, Hg 49.55%, Na 5.68%, O 7.90%, S 7.92%.

Description and references

Prepd by reacting ethylmercuric chloride (or ethylmercuric hydroxide) with thiosalicylic acid: Kharasch, US 1672615 (1928); Trikojus, Nature 158, 472 (1946); Swirska et al., Przem. Chem. 39, 371 (1960), C.A. 55, 3507a (1961). Toxicity: Mason et al., Clin. Toxicol. 4, 185 (1971). Review of health effects from vaccine exposure: M. Bigham, R. Copes, Drug Saf. 28, 89-101 (2005).

Chemical structure

Properties

Cream-colored, crystalline powder. Stable in air, but not in sunlight. One gram dissolves in about 1 ml water, in about 8 ml alcohol. Practically insol in ether and benzene. Stabilization of solns with EDTA: Davisson, US 2864844 (1958 to Lilly). pH of 1% aq soln: 6.7. LD50 s.c. in rats: 98 mg/kg (Mason).

Use

Pharmaceutic aid (preservative).

Therapeutic Category

Anti-infective.

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

Antibacterial, antifungal (topical).

Keywords

Antiseptic/Disinfectant; Mercurial compounds