Rediscovering Arsenoacetic Acid

Abstract

Arsonoacetic acid, H₂O₃As¹CH₂COOH, and arsenoacetic acid, punitively [AsVCH₂COOH]₂ have been synthesised according to historical literature methods, and have been characterised using modern techniques. Arsonoacetic acid was shown by an X-ray crystal structure analysis to be a molecular species with an extensive hydrogen bonding network in the crystal. Arsenoacetic acid proved to be more enigmatic. Electrospray mass spectra suggested it consisted of a mixtures of rings (RAs)n, n = 3-11, with n = 6 dominating. This was partly confirmed by a crystal structure of (AsCH₂COOH)₆ (as the pyridine solvate). On the other hand, ¹H and ¹³C NMR gave spectra that indicated only a single component for arsenoacetic acid. The formation of crystals of the high temperature phase of elemental sulfur, β-S8, at ambient temperature is also discussed.