Dimercaprol

 

Dimercaprol

Chemical formula	C3H8S2O
OTP appearance	colorless, oily, smelly liquid
Molar Mass(g/mol)	124.225
Density(g/cc)	1.229
Boiling Point(°C)	223.4
Solubility in water(g/L)	87
NFPA 704	1 2 0

Uses

Primary

• Chelation treatment for heavy metals including mercury, bismuth, chromium, cobalt, gold, nickel, lead, antimony, cadmium, and arsenic
• WHO LEM

Natural occurrence

• does not occur naturally

Hazards

• Toxic

Production

Synthesis

dimercaprol

1. Combine 2,3-dibromo propanol with sodium hydrosulfide

   C₃H₆Br₂O + 2 NaSH → CH₂SH-CHSH-CH₂OH + 2 NaBr

sodium hydrosulfide

1. Bubble hydrogen sulfide through a solution of sodium hydroxide which possibly contains some amount of solid sodium sulfide (Na₂S).

   H₂S(g) + NaOH(aq)

   {

   →

   130-150°C}

   NaSH + H₂O // gas can contain un-oxidized hydrocarbons in almost any amount

   H₂S(g) + Na₂S(s)

   {H₂O

   →

   95-150°C}

   2 NaSH(aq)