Title: Docusate Sodium
CAS Registry Number: 577-11-7
CAS Name: Sulfobutanedioic acid 1,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester sodium salt
Synonyms: sulfosuccinic acid 1,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester
S-sodium salt; bis(2-ethylhexyl)sodium sulfosuccinate; dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate; sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate; DSS
Trademarks: Aerosol OT (Cyanamid); Colace (Roberts); Comfolax (Searle); Coprola (Dunster); Dioctylal (Continental Pharma); Dioctyl (Medo); Diotilan (Chinoin); Disonate (Lannett); Doxinate (Hoechst); Doxol (Blair); Dulcivac (Harvey); Jamylène (Th?aplix); Molatoc; Molcer (Wallace); Nevax; Regutol (Schering-Plough); Soliwax (Concept Pharm.); Velmol (Berlex); Waxsol (Norgine); Yal (Ritter)
Molecular Formula: C20H37NaO7S
Molecular Weight: 444.56
Percent Composition: C 54.03%, H 8.39%, Na 5.17%, O 25.19%, S 7.21%
Literature References: Prepn: Jaeger,
US 2028091;
US 2176423 (1936, 1939, both to Am. Cyanamid). Structure and wetting power: Caryl,
Ind. Eng. Chem. 33, 731 (1941). Comprehensive description: S. Ahuja, J. Cohen,
Anal. Profiles Drug Subs. 2, 199-219 (1973);
12, 713-720 (1983). For structure see Docusate calcium.
Properties: Available as wax-like solid, usually in rolls of tissue-thin material; also as 50-75% solns in various solvents. Soly in water (g/l): 15 (25°), 23 (40°), 30 (50°), 55 (70°). Sol in CCl4, petr ether, naphtha, xylene, dibutyl phthalate, liq petrolatum, acetone, alcohol, vegetable oils. Very sol in water + alcohol, water + water-miscible organic solvents. Stable in acid and neutral solns; hydrolyzes in alkaline solns.
Derivative Type: Docusate potassium
CAS Registry Number: 7491-09-0
Trademarks: Rectalad (Carter-Wallace)
Molecular Formula: C20H37KO7S
Molecular Weight: 460.67
Percent Composition: C 52.14%, H 8.10%, K 8.49%, O 24.31%, S 6.96%
NOTE: Ingredient of the laxative
Peri-Colace (Roberts) which also contains casanthranol.
Use: Sodium salt as pharmaceutic aid (surfactant); as wetting agent in industrial, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food applications; dispersing and solubilizing agent in foods; adjuvant in tablet formation.
Therap-Cat: Stool softener.
Therap-Cat-Vet: Stool softener.
Keywords: Laxative/Cathartic.