Chemical Properties
Off-white to beige-yellowish crystalline powder
Uses
specific cytotoxin (beta pacreatic cell)
Uses
Cytotoxic compound that causes oxidative base damage to nuclear DNAAlloxan monohydrate is used as a precursor to prepare purple dye murexide. It is also used in research models to induce diabetes and destroy beta cells. Further, it is a strong oxidizing agent and it forms a hemiacetal with its reduced reaction product dialuric acid.
Uses
A cytotoxic compound, Alloxan Monohydrate causes oxidative base damage to nuclear DNA.
Safety Profile
Poison by intravenous
route. An experimental teratogen.
Experimental reproductive effects. Mutation data reported. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx.
Purification Methods
Recrystallisation from H2O gave the tetrahydrate in large prisms or rhombs. On heating at 100o, or on exposure to air, this is converted to the monohydrate. Dissolve it in its own weight of boiling H2O and cool it for several days below 0o; the tetrahydrate crystallises from solution much more slowly when free from HNO3. It is less soluble in bicarbonate solutions than in H2O. Drying the solid over H2SO4 yields the monohydrate. The anhydrous crystals can be obtained by recrystallisation from dry Me2CO or AcOH followed by washing with dry Et2O, or by sublimation in a vacuum. On heating it turns pink at 230o and decomposes at ca 256o. It is acidic to litmus. [Hartman & Sheppard Org Synth Coll Vol III 37 1955.] It forms a compound with urea which crystallises from H2O in yellow needles that become red at 170o and decompose at 185-186o. [Beilstein 24 H 500, 24 I 428, 24 II 301, 24 III/IV 2137.]
