Isethionic acid

Isethionic acid is an organosulfur compound containing an alkylsulfonic acid located beta to a hydroxy group. Its discovery is generally attributed to Heinrich Gustav Magnus, who prepared it by the action of solid sulfur trioxide on ethanol in 1833.[1] It is a white water-soluble solid used in the manufacture of certain surfactants and in the industrial production of taurine. It is most commonly available in the form of its sodium salt (sodium isethionate).

Isethionic acid

Isethionic acid
Names
IUPAC name
2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.003.169
KEGG
UNII
Properties
C2H6O4S
Molar mass 126.13 g/mol
Density 1.63 g/cm3
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Synthesis

Its original synthesis, by the reaction of sulfur trioxide on ethanol,[1] has largely been surpassed. It may be produced by the hydrolysis of carbyl sulfate, which is obtained by the sulfonation of ethylene.

However the most common route is the reaction of ethylene oxide with aqueous sodium bisulfite, which produces the sodium salt (sodium isethionate):

Reactions

Isethionic acid is used as a starting material in the industrial production of taurine.

Dehydration of isethionic acid gives vinylsulfonic acid.[2]

Derivatives

Fatty acid esters of isethionic acid (such as sodium lauroyl isethionate and sodium cocoyl isethionate) are used as biodegradable anionic surfactants.[3] These materials are much milder to skin that other sulfate based surfactants (i.e. sodium lauryl sulfate)[4] making them popular for use in make-up, shampoos and ‘Dove type’ soap bars.

Isethionic acid is also used as a counter ion in certain pharmaceutical formulations, including the antimicrobials hexamidine and pentamidine.[5]

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.[6]

See also

References
  1. Magnus, G. (1833). "Ueber die Weinschwefelsäure, ihren Einfluss auf die Aetherbildung, und über zwei neue Säuren ähnlicher Zusammensetzung" (PDF). Annalen der Physik und Chemie. 103 (2): 367–388. doi:10.1002/andp.18331030213. ISSN 0003-3804.
  2. Kosswig, Kurt (2000). "Sulfonic Acids, Aliphatic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a25_503. ISBN 3-527-30673-0.
  3. Petter, P. J. (1984). "Fatty acid sulfoalkyl amides and esters as cosmetic surfactants". International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 6 (5): 249–260. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2494.1984.tb00382.x. ISSN 0142-5463.
  4. Tupker, R. A.; Bunte, E. E.; Fidler, V.; Wlechers, J. W.; Coenraads, P. J. (1999). "Irritancy ranking of anionic detergents using one-time occlusive, repeated occlusive and repeated open tests". Contact Dermatitis. 40 (6): 316–322. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1999.tb06082.x. ISSN 0105-1873.
  5. Wicho, H, ed. (2009). Austria-Codex Stoffliste (in German) (42 ed.). Vienna: Österreichischer Apothekerverlag.
  6. 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.
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