Title: Chloral Hydrate
CAS Registry Number: 302-17-0
CAS Name: 2,2,2-Trichloro-1,1-ethanediol
Synonyms: trichloroacetaldehyde monohydrate
Trademarks: Escre (SS Pharm.); Noctec (BMS); Nycton; Somnos (Merck & Co.); Chloraldurat (Pohl)
Molecular Formula: C2H3Cl3O2
Molecular Weight: 165.40
Percent Composition: C 14.52%, H 1.83%, Cl 64.30%, O 19.35%
Literature References: Made by adding the required amount of water to trichloroacetaldehyde,
q.v. First synthesized by Liebig in 1832. Introduced as hypnotic by Liebreich in 1869. Comprehensive description: J. E. Fairbrother,
Anal. Profiles Drug Subs. 2, 85-143 (1973). Toxicity data: E. Goldenthal,
Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 18, 185 (1971). Evaluation of mutagenicity: J. Leuschner, F. Leuschner,
Arzneim.-Forsch. 41, 1101 (1991).
Derivative Type: Monohydrate
Properties: Large, monoclinic plates. Perfect 001 cleavage. Skin irritant. Aromatic, penetrating and sightly acrid odor, slightly bitter, caustic taste. Slowly volatilizes on exposure to air. d 1.91. mp 57° when heated in an open vessel. bp 98° with dissociation into chloral and water. Freely sol in water. One ml of water dissolves the following amounts of chloral hydrate: 2.4 g at 0°, 8.3 g at 25°, 14.3 g at 40°. One gram of chlorate hydrate dissolves in 1.3 ml alcohol, in 2 ml chloroform, in 1.5 ml ether, in 1.4 ml olive oil, in 0.5 glycerol, in 68 g carbon disulfide. Freely sol in acetone, methyl ethyl ketone. Moderately or sparingly sol in turpentine, petr ether, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, toluene. Dissociation in water: Piguet
et al., Helv. Chim. Acta 46, 406 (1963). An alcoholic soln of chloral hydrate (1 in 20) does not at once redden moistened blue litmus paper. Dec by NaOH into chloroform. Reduces ammoniacal AgNO3. Liquefies when triturated with an equal quantity of menthol, camphor or thymol. LD50 orally in rats: 479 mg/kg (Goldenthal).
Melting point: mp 57° when heated in an open vessel
Boiling point: bp 98° with dissociation into chloral and water
Density: d 1.91
Toxicity data: LD50 orally in rats: 479 mg/kg (Goldenthal)
NOTE: This is a controlled substance (depressant):
21 CFR, 1308.14.
Use: Manuf DDT.
Therap-Cat: Sedative, hypnotic.
Therap-Cat-Vet: Anesthetic, sedative, hypnotic.
Keywords: Sedative/Hypnotic; Chloral Derivatives.