Formula C7H7ClNO2S·Na (3H2O) Density 1.4 g/cm³ | Molar mass 281.69 g/mol Appearance white powder | |
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Tosylchloramide or N-chloro tosylamide, sodium salt, sold as chloramine-T, is a N-chlorinated and N-deprotonated sulfonamide used as a biocide and a mild disinfectant. It is a white powder that gives unstable solutions with water. Trade names of chloramine-T products include Chloraseptin, Chlorazol, Clorina, Disifin, Halamid, Hydroclonazone, Trichlorol, Minachlor, and generic Chloramin T or Tosylchloramide Sodium, among others.
Contents
Chemistry
As an N-chloro compound, it contains active (electrophilic) chlorine and can be compared to the O-chlorinated sodium hypochlorite. Chloramine-T is slightly basic (pH typically 8.5). In water, it breaks down to the disinfectant hypochlorite. It can be used as a source of electrophilic chlorine in organic synthesis.
The anionic sulfonamide is stabilized by delocalization of the nitrogen lone pair across the SO2 group, facilitating deprotonation of the parent amine by bases such as hydroxide. It is readily biodegradable by use of ultraviolet (UV) light.
Synthesis
Chloramine-T is prepared from p-toluenesulfonamide and sodium hypochlorite, with the latter being produced in situ from sodium hydroxide and chlorine (Cl2).
Iodination and radioiodination
Hypochlorite released from chloramine-T acts as an effective oxidizing agent for iodide to form iodine monochloride (ICl). ICl rapidly undergoes electrophilic substitution predominantly with activated aromatic rings, such as those of the amino acid tyrosine. Thus, chloramine-T is widely used for the incorporation of iodine to peptides and proteins. Chloramine-T together with iodogen or lactoperoxidase is commonly used for labeling peptides and proteins with radioiodine isotopes (123I, 125I or 131I).
Biocide
Chloramine-T is available in tablet or powder form and has to be dissolved before use. It is sprayed on a surface and allowed to stand for at least 15 minutes before being wiped off or allowed to dry. It used in areas such as hospitals, laboratories, nursing homes, funeral homes, medical, dental and veterinary facilities, where control of pathogens is required, for disinfecting surfaces and soaking medical and dental equipment. The substance is also used for parasite control and for drinking water disinfection.
Chloramine-T is as an algicide, bactericide, virucide, fungicide (including spores), germicide. It is also effective against mycobacteria such as tuberculosis, foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza. The molecular structure of toluenesulfonylamide is similar to para-aminobenzoic acid, an intermediate in bacterial metabolism, which is disrupted by this sulfonamide (in the same way as by a sulfa drug). Therefore, chloramine-T is capable of inhibiting with bacterial growth with two mechanisms, with the phenylsulfonamide moiety and the hypochlorite, which destroys the DNA structure via oxidation and thereby prevents microbes from reproducing and reforming.
Protective agent
Chloramine-T reacts readily with mustard gas to yield a harmless crystalline sulfimide; chloramine-T derivatives are being studied as protective agents against poison gas.