2-Bromoethanol can damage human body. The invasive ways of 2-bromoethanol include inhalation, ingestion and percutaneous absorption. 2-Bromoethanol has strong irritation to mucosa, upper respiratory tract, eyes and skin. Inhalation of 2-bromoethanol can cause death due to spasm, inflammation and edema of larynx and bronchus, chemical pneumonia and pulmonary edema. The manifestations of 2-bromoethanol poisoning include burning sensation, cough, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting.
2-Bromoethanol is a colorless or light yellow hygroscopic liquid with relatively stable and toxic chemical properties. It plays a role in industrial and chemical experiments. It shall be stored in a ventilated, low-temperature and dry warehouse and separated from oxidants, acids and food additives. It is miscible with water and forms an azeotrope with water. The boiling point is 99.1 ℃ (101.35kpa). The aqueous solution has a sweet burning taste. It can be miscible with most organic solvents such as ethanol and ether, but insoluble in petroleum ether. The hydrolysis of aqueous solution can be accelerated when it meets acid, alkali and heating.
Ethylene bromohydrin is not used much forany commercial purpose. The risk of expo sure to this compound arises when ethyleneoxide reacts with hydrobromic acid.
2-Bromoethanol is utilized in selective reduction of nitroarenes. It is used as a solvent and organic synthetic raw material. It finds application in the synthesis of 2-piperidin-1-yl-ethanol by reacting with piperidine. It is used in selective reduction of nitroarenes.
2-Bromoethanol is used in selective reduction of nitroarenes (PcFe(II)/NaBH4/2-bromoethanol catalyst system).
Colorless to dark brown liquid. Sweet burning taste.
Hygroscopic. Water soluble.
2-Bromoethanol forms an azeotrope with water; hydrolysis of aqueous solutions is accelerated by heat, alkalis and acids.
Irritant to eyes and mucous membranes.
The vapors of ethylene bromohydrin are anirritant to the eyes and mucous membranes.It is corrosive to the skin. Ingestion of thiscompound can produce moderate to severetoxic effects. The target organs are the CNS,gastrointestinal tract, and liver. The lethaldose in mice by the intraperitoneal route was80 mg/kg.
Ethylene bromohydrin manifested car cinogenicity in test animals. It caused tumorsin lungs and the gastrointestinal tract in micefrom intraperitoneal (150 mg/kg/8 weeks)and oral (43 mg/kg/80 weeks) dosages,respectively. It is a mutagen, positive to thehistidine reversion–Ames test.
2-Bromoethanol is combustible.
Poison by
intraperitoneal route. Questionable
carcinogen with experimental neoplastigenic
and tumorigenic data. Mutation data
reported. When heated to decomposition it
emits toxic fumes of Br-. See also
Ethylene bromohydrin is mixed with a combustible solvent and burned in a chemicalincinerator.
