FLUORINATED ACETIC ACIDS

Fluoroacetic acid [144-49-OJ, FCH2COOH, is noted for its high, toxicity to animals, including humans. It is sold in the form of its sodium salt as a rodenticide and general mammalian pest control agent. The acid has mp, 33°C bp, 165°C heat of combustion, —715.8 kJ/mol( —171.08 kcal/mol) (1) enthalpy of vaporization, 83.89 kJ /mol (20.05 kcal/mol) (2). Some thermodynamic and transport properties of its aqueous solutions have been pubHshed (3), as has the molecular stmcture of the acid as deterrnined by microwave spectroscopy (4). Although first prepared in 1896 (5), its unusual toxicity was not pubhshed until 50 years later (6). The acid is the toxic constituent of a South African plant Dichapetalum i mosum better known as gifirlaar (7). At least 24 other poisonous plant species are known to contain it (8). [Pg.307]

Chemically, fluoroacetic acid behaves like a typical carboxylic acid, although its acidity is higher K — 2.2 x 10 ) than the average (9). It can be prepared from the commercially available sodium salt by distillation from sulfuric acid (10). [Pg.307]

Sodium Fluoroacetate. Sodium fluoroacetate [62-74-8] FCH2COONa, known as Compound 1080, is a hygroscopic white soHd, mp, [Pg.307]

200—202°C, which decomposes when heated above the melting point. Its solubility at 25°C in g/100 g solvent is water. 111 methanol, 5 ethanol, 1.4 acetone, 0.04 and carbon tetrachloride, 0.004. Because its carbon—fluorine bond is unreactive under most conditions, this salt can be converted by standard procedures to typical carboxylic acid derivatives such as fluoroacetyl esters (11,12), fluoroacetyl chloride [359-06-8] (13), fluoroacetamide (14), or fluoroacetonitrile [503-20-8] (14). [Pg.307]

Toxicity. Sodium fluoroacetate is one of the most effective all-purpose rodenticides known (18). It is highly toxic to all species of rats tested and can be used either in water solution or in bait preparations. Its absence of objectionable taste and odor and its delayed effects lead to its excellent acceptance by rodents. It is nonvolatile, chemically stable, and not toxic or irritating to the unbroken skin of workers. Rats do not appear to develop any significant tolerance to this compound from nonlethal doses. However, it is extremely dangerous to humans, to common household pets, and to farm animals, and should only be used by experienced personnel. The rodent carcasses should be collected and destroyed since they remain poisonous for a long period of time to any animal that eats them. [Pg.307]

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