Allyl isothiocyanate

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Allyl isothiocyanate
Allyl isothiocyanate Allyl-isothiocyanate-2D-skeletal.png
Allyl isothiocyanate
Space-filling model of allyl isothiocyanate Allyl-isothiocyanate-3D-vdW.png
Space-filling model of allyl isothiocyanate
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
3-Isothiocyanatoprop-1-ene
Other names
Synthetic mustard oil
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.000.281 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
EC Number
  • 200-309-2
KEGG
PubChem CID
RTECS number
  • NX8225000
UNII
UN number 1545
  • InChI=1S/C4H5NS/c1-2-3-5-4-6/h2H,1,3H2 Yes check.svgY
    Key: ZOJBYZNEUISWFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N Yes check.svgY
  • InChI=1/C4H5NS/c1-2-3-5-4-6/h2H,1,3H2
    Key: ZOJBYZNEUISWFT-UHFFFAOYAS
  • C=CCN=C=S
Properties
C4H5NS
Molar mass 99.15 g·mol−1
Density 1.013–1.020 g/cm3
Melting point −102 °C (−152 °F; 171 K)
Boiling point 148 to 154 °C (298 to 309 °F; 421 to 427 K)
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS-pictogram-flamme.svg GHS-pictogram-skull.svg GHS-pictogram-exclam.svg GHS-pictogram-pollu.svg
Danger
H226, H301, H310, H315, H319, H330, H335, H410
P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P260, P261, P262, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P284, P301+P310, P302+P350, P302+P352, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P310, P312, P320, P321, P322, P330, P332+P313, P337+P313, P361, P362, P363, P370+P378, P391, P403+P233, P403+P235, P405, P501
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
X mark.svgN  verify  (what is  Yes check.svgYX mark.svgN ?)

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a naturally occurring unsaturated isothiocyanate. The colorless oil is responsible for the pungent taste of cruciferous vegetables such as mustard, radish, horseradish, and wasabi. This pungency and the lachrymatory effect of AITC are mediated through the TRPA1 and TRPV1 ion channels. [1] [2] [3] It is slightly soluble in water, but more soluble in most organic solvents. [4]

Contents

Biosynthesis and biological functions

Allyl isothiocyanate can be obtained from the seeds of black mustard (Rhamphospermum nigrum) or brown Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). When these mustard seeds are broken, the enzyme myrosinase is released and acts on a glucosinolate known as sinigrin to give allyl isothiocyanate. [5] This serves the plant as a defense against herbivores; since it is harmful to the plant itself, [6] it is stored in the harmless form of the glucosinolate, separate from the myrosinase enzyme. When an animal chews the plant, the allyl isothiocyanate is released, repelling the animal. Human appreciation of the pungency is learned. [7] :105

The compound has been shown to strongly repel fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). [8] AITC vapor is also used as an antimicrobial and shelf life extender in food packaging. [7] :118–120

Production and applications

Allyl isothiocyanate is produced commercially by the reaction of allyl chloride and potassium thiocyanate: [4]

CH2=CHCH2Cl + KSCN → CH2=CHCH2NCS + KCl

The product obtained in this fashion is sometimes known as synthetic mustard oil. Allyl thiocyanate isomerizes to the isothiocyanate: [9]

CH2=CHCH2SCN → CH2=CHCH2NCS

Allyl isothiocyanate can also be liberated by dry distillation of the seeds. The product obtained in this fashion is known as volatile oil of mustard.

It is used principally as a flavoring agent in foods. Synthetic allyl isothiocyanate is used as an insecticide, as an anti-mold agent [10] bacteriocide, [11] and nematicide, and is used in certain cases for crop protection. [4] It is also used in fire alarms for the deaf. [12] [13]

Hydrolysis of allyl isothiocyanate gives allylamine. [14]

Safety

Allyl isothiocyanate has an LD50 of 151 mg/kg and is a lachrymator (similar to tear gas or mace). [4]

Oncology

Based on in vitro experiments and animal models, allyl isothiocyanate exhibits many of the desirable attributes of a cancer chemopreventive agent. [15]

See also

References

  1. Everaerts, W.; Gees, M.; Alpizar, Y. A.; Farre, R.; Leten, C.; Apetrei, A.; Dewachter, I.; van Leuven, F.; Vennekens, R. (2011). "The Capsaicin Receptor TRPV1 is a Crucial Mediator of the Noxious Effects of Mustard Oil". Current Biology. 21 (4): 316–321. Bibcode:2011CBio...21..316E. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.01.031 . PMID   21315593. S2CID   13151479.
  2. Brône, B.; Peeters, P. J.; Marrannes, R.; Mercken, M.; Nuydens, R.; Meert, T.; Gijsen, H. J. (2008). "Tear gasses CN, CR, and CS are potent activators of the human TRPA1 receptor". Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology . 231 (2): 150–156. Bibcode:2008ToxAP.231..150B. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2008.04.005. PMID   18501939.
  3. Ryckmans, T.; Aubdool, A. A.; Bodkin, J. V.; Cox, P.; Brain, S. D.; Dupont, T.; Fairman, E.; Hashizume, Y.; Ishii, N.; et al. (2011). "Design and Pharmacological Evaluation of PF-4840154, a Non-Electrophilic Reference Agonist of the TrpA1 Channel". Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 21 (16): 4857–4859. doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.06.035. PMID   21741838.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Romanowski, F.; Klenk, H. "Thiocyanates and Isothiocyanates, Organic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry . Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a26_749. ISBN   978-3-527-30673-2.
  5. Blažević, Ivica; Montaut, Sabine; Burčul, Franko; Olsen, Carl Erik; Burow, Meike; Rollin, Patrick; Agerbirk, Niels (2020). "Glucosinolate structural diversity, identification, chemical synthesis and metabolism in plants". Phytochemistry. 169: 112100. Bibcode:2020PChem.169k2100B. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2019.112100 . PMID   31771793. S2CID   208318505.
  6. Li, Yingbin; Lu, Daqing; Xia, Yan; Xu, Xinjing; Huang, Huichuan; Mei, Xinyue; Yang, Min; Li, Jianqiang; Zhu, Shusheng; Liu, Yixiang; Zhang, Zhiping (2023-09-30). "Effects of allyl isothiocyanate fumigation on medicinal plant root knot disease control, plant survival, and the soil bacterial community". BMC Microbiology. 23 (1): 278. doi: 10.1186/s12866-023-02992-w . ISSN   1471-2180. PMC   10542678 . PMID   37775764. Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) [...] has been used in agriculture because of its fungicidal [...] bactericidal, nematocidal [able to destroy nematodes], and herbicidal [able to destroy plants] biological activities.
  7. 1 2 Melton, Laurence, ed. (2019). The Encyclopedia of Food Chemistry. Netherlands: Elsevier. ISBN   978-0-12-814045-1.
  8. Hashimoto, Yoshiaki; Yoshimura, Masashi; Huang, Rong-Nan (2019). "Wasabi versus red imported fire ants: Preliminary test of repellency of microencapsulated allyl isothiocyanate against Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) using bait traps in Taiwan". Applied Entomology and Zoology. 54 (2): 193–196. Bibcode:2019AppEZ..54..193H. doi:10.1007/s13355-019-00613-5.
  9. Emergon, David W. (1971). "The Preparation and Isomerization of Allyl Thiocyanate. An Organic Chemistry Experiment". Journal of Chemical Education. 48 (1): 81. Bibcode:1971JChEd..48...81E. doi:10.1021/ed048p81.
  10. US Patent No. 8691042
  11. Masuda, Shuichi; Masuda, Hideki; Shimamura, Yuko; Sugiyama, Chitose; Takabayashi, Fumiyo (April 2017). "Improvement Effects of Wasabi (Wasabia japonica) Leaves and Allyl Isothiocyanate on Stomach Lesions of Mongolian Gerbils Infected with Helicobacter pylori". Natural Product Communications. 12 (4): 595–598. doi: 10.1177/1934578X1701200431 . PMID   30520603. S2CID   54567566.
  12. USpatent 20100308995A1,Hideaki Goto, Tomo Sakai, Koichiro Mizoguchi, Yukinobu Tajima, Makoto Imai,"Odor generation alarm and method for informing unusual situation",issued 2015-06-24
  13. Phillipson, Tacye (29 August 2018). "Why would you want a wasabai fire alarm?". National Museums Scotland Blog. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  14. Leffler, M. T. (1938). "Allylamine". Organic Syntheses . 18: 5; Collected Volumes, vol. 2, p. 24.
  15. Zhang, Y (2010). "Allyl isothiocyanate as a cancer chemopreventive phytochemical". Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 54 (1): 127–35. doi:10.1002/mnfr.200900323. PMC   2814364 . PMID   19960458.