Isethionic acid

Isethionic acid
IUPAC name

2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid
Identifiers
CAS number 107-36-8 Y
PubChem 7866
ChemSpider 7578 Y
KEGG C05123 Y
ChEBI CHEBI:1157 Y
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula C2H6O4S
Molar mass 126.13 g/mol
Density 1.63 g/cm3
Melting point

191–194 °C
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Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Isethionic acid is a short chain alkane sulfonic acid containing hydroxy group, is a water soluble solid used in the manufacture of mild, biodegradable and high foaming anionic surfactants for skin cleansing.[1]

The antimicrobials hexamidine and pentamidine are available as diisethionates.[2]

Synthetic isethionic acid is obtained from the reaction of ethylene oxide with aqueous sodium bisulfite, and is used for the industrial production of taurine.[3]

Biological importance

Studies made on dog heart slices suggested that heart tissue may be capable of converting taurine to isethionic acid, further experiments demonstrated that this tissue may synthetize taurine from cystine.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Chemical land 21". Isethionic acid. http://www.chemicalland21.com/arokorhi/specialtychem/perchem/ISETHIONIC%20ACID.htm. Retrieved September 16, 2005. 
  2. ^ Wicho, H, ed (2009) (in German). Austria-Codex Stoffliste (42 ed.). Vienna: Österreichischer Apothekerverlag. 
  3. ^ Kosswig, Kurt (2000). "Sulfonic Acids, Aliphatic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry (Wiley-VCH). doi:10.1002/14356007.a25_503. ISBN 3527306730. 
  4. ^ W.O Read and J.D.Welty (1961). "Synthesis of Taurine and Isethionic Acid by Dog Heart Slices". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 237: 1521–1522.