Phenylmercury acetate

Phenylmercury acetate

Names
Systematic IUPAC name Phenylmercurio acetate
Identifiers
CAS Number	62-38-4 Y
Beilstein Reference	3662930
ChEBI	CHEBI:27684 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1333953 N
ChemSpider	10294750 Y
EC Number	200-532-5
Gmelin Reference	83357
Jmol interactive 3D	Image Image
KEGG	D05464 N
MeSH	Phenylmercuric+acetate
PubChem	16682730
RTECS number	OV6475000
UNII	OSX88361UX N
UN number	1674
InChI InChI=1S/C6H5.C2H4O2.Hg/c1-2-4-6-5-3-1;1-2(3)4;/h1-5H;1H3,(H,3,4);/q;;+1/p-1 Y Key: XEBWQGVWTUSTLN-UHFFFAOYSA-M Y InChI=1S/C6H5.C2H4O2.Hg/c1-2-4-6-5-3-1;1-2(3)4;/h1-5H;1H3,(H,3,4);/q;;+1/p-1 Key: XEBWQGVWTUSTLN-UHFFFAOYSA-M
SMILES CC(=O)O[Hg]C1=CC=CC=C1 CC(=O)O[Hg]c1ccccc1
Properties
Chemical formula	C8H8HgO2
Molar mass	336.74 g·mol−1
Melting point	148 to 151 °C (298 to 304 °F; 421 to 424 K)
Hazards
Safety data sheet	Oxford MSDS
EU classification (DSD)	T N
R-phrases	R25, R34, R48/24/25, R50/53
S-phrases	(S1/2), S23, S24/25, S37, S45, S60, S61
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Phenylmercuric acetate is an organomercury compound. This compound was formerly used as a preservative in paints,^[1] and as a disinfectant.^[2] When applied to the leaves of plants, it is an antitranspirant.^[3]

Applications

Phenylmercuric acetate (PMA) has been used against antifungal activity in agriculture and in leather processing and has known to work well. PMA has also been used as an additive in eye-drops and paint in order to preserve them, as a disinfectant, and as a catalyst in polyurethane systems.^[4][5] In the 1950s-1970s, PMA was used as a catalyst in the 3M Tartan brand polyurethane flexible floors that were commonly in school gymnasiums.^[5] School officials worried that mercury vapor was being released into air above the surface of these floors. They had to be carefully removed since mercury is such a toxic heavy metal.

Findings

The study on PMA as an anti-fungal is the most studied topic for this compound. It has been found that plants treated with PMA transpired more due to the retarded stomatal closure in the plants. Day-time reductions in transpiration by PMA greatly exceed night-time increases in water loss. PMA stunts stomatal closures as well as openings.^[6] Research has found that PMA may plausibly decrease the absorbency of guard cell membranes to solutes, thereby retarding all stomatal movements that are osmotically prompted.^[6]

Hazards

PMA can cause Contact Urticaria Syndrome (CUS). Contact urticaria refers to a wheal-and-flare response occurring on the application of chemicals to intact skin. A wheal-and-flare response is a skin eruption that may follow injury or injection of an antigen. It is characterized by swelling and redness caused by a release of histamine. The reaction usually occurs in three stages, beginning with the appearance of an erythematous area at the site of injury, followed by development of a flare surrounding the site; finally a wheal forms at the site as fluid leaks under the skin from surrounding capillaries.^[7] CUS has been categorized as an immediate hypersensitivity reaction with IgE (a type of anti-body) playing a crucial role in its pathogenesis.^[8] Investigations dealing with CUS seem to suggest that a percentage of urticarias encompass a contact mechanism.^[8]

References