Preparation of DMMTAV and DMDTAV Using DMAV for Environmental Applications: Synthesis, Purification, and Confirmation

Hosub Lee; Youn-Tae Kim; Seulki Jeong; Hye-On Yoon

doi:10.3791/56603

Method Article

Preparation of DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V Using DMA^V for Environmental Applications: Synthesis, Purification, and Confirmation

DOI:

10.3791/56603

⸱

March 9th, 2018

Hosub Lee¹ , Youn-Tae Kim² , Seulki Jeong¹ , Hye-On Yoon¹

¹Korea Basic Science Institute, Seoul Center, ²Natural Science Research Institute, Yonsei University

Summary

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This article presents modified experimental protocols for dimethylmonothioarsinic acid (DMMTA^V) and dimethyldithioarsinic acid (DMDTA^V) synthesis, inducing dimethylarsinic acid (DMA^V) thiolation through mixing of DMA^V, Na₂S, and H₂SO₄. The modified protocol provides an experimental guideline, thereby overcoming limitations of the synthesis steps that could have caused experimental failures in quantitative analysis.

Abstract

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Dimethylated thioarsenicals such as dimethylmonothioarsinic acid (DMMTA^V) and dimethyldithioarsinic acid (DMDTA^V), which are produced by the metabolic pathway of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA^V) thiolation, have been recently found in the environment as well as human organs. DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V can be quantified to determine the ecological effects of dimethylated thioarsenicals and their stability in environmental media. The synthesis method for these compounds is unstandardized, making replicating previous studies challenging. Furthermore, there is a lack of information about storage techniques, including storage of compounds without species transformation. Moreover, because only limited information about synthesis methods is available, there may be experimental difficulties in synthesizing standard chemicals and performing quantitative analysis. The protocol presented herein provides a practically modified synthesis method for the dimethylated thioarsenicals, DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V, and will help in the quantification of species separation analysis using high performance liquid chromatography in conjunction with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). The experimental steps of this procedure were modified by focusing on the preparation of chemical reagents, filtration methods, and storage.

Introduction

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Since dimethylarsinic acid (DMA^V) has been demonstrated to exhibit both acute toxicity and genotoxicity due to undergoing methylation and thiolation upon ingestion¹^,², the metabolic pathway of arsenic thiolation has been intensively studied both in vitro and in vivo³^,⁴ as well as in environmental media (e.g., landfill leachate)⁵^,⁶. Previous studies have found both reduced and thiolated analogs of DMA^V in living cells, for example, dimethylarsinous acid (DMA^III), dimethylmonothioarsinic acid (DMMTA^V), and dimethyldithioarsinic acid (DMDTA^V)⁷^,⁸^,⁹, with dimethylated thioarsenicals such as DMMTA^V exhibiting greater toxicity than other known inorganic or organic arsenicals¹⁰. The abundance of highly toxic thioarsenicals has serious environmental implications, since they may pose a risk to humans and the environment under highly sulfidic conditions¹¹. However, the mechanisms of DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V (trans)formation and their fates in environmental media still require further study. Thus, the quantitative analysis of thioarsenicals is required to improve understanding of the environmental effects of DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V.

Although standard chemicals are the key requirement for quantitative analysis, the standards of DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V are difficult to obtain by replicating previous studies, owing to the high risk of species transformation into other species and unstandardized synthesis procedures¹². Moreover, the methods referenced have limitations that may lead to practical difficulties in synthesizing the standard chemicals and performing quantitative analysis. DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V are commonly prepared by mixing DMA^V, Na₂S, and H₂SO₄ in a certain molar ratio¹ or bubbling H₂S gas through a solution of DMA^{V 13,14}. The bubbling method features substitution of oxygen by sulfur using a direct supply of H₂S gas, which, is highly toxic and difficult to control for an inexperienced user. Conversely, the above mixing method¹, widely used for the qualitative analysis of DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V in environmental sudies⁵^,⁶^,¹², features the thiolation of DMA^V with H₂S generated by mixing Na₂S and H₂SO₄ and produces DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V, allowing easier stoichiometric control to produce target chemicals, as compared to the direct use of H₂S gas.

The reference mixing method procedures¹^,³^,⁴^,⁸^,¹⁵ mentioned in this study exhibit limitations in some of their critical experimental steps, which might lead to experimental failure. For example, the details of specific solvent (i.e., deionized water) preparation and the extraction and crystallization of the synthesized arsenicals are over-abbreviated or not described in sufficient detail. Such dispersed and limited information on procedural steps might lead to the inconsistent formation of thioarsenicals and unreliable quantification analysis. Therefore, the modified protocol developed herein describes the synthesis of DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V stock solutions with quantitative species separation analysis.

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Protocol

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1. Synthesis of DMMTA^V

Chemical preparation and molar ratio mixing of DMA^V, Na₂S, and H₂SO₄
NOTE: DMA^V:Na₂S:H₂SO₄ = 1:1.6:1.6
1. Dissolve 5.24 g of DMA^V in 40 mL deionized and N₂-purged (purged for at least 30 min) water in a 50 mL centrifuge tube.
2. Prepare Na₂S reagent by dissolving 14.41 g of Na₂S·9H₂O in 50 mL deionized and N₂-purged water in a 250 mL flask.
3. Prepare H₂SO₄ reagent by adding 3.3 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid (96%) to 40 mL of deionized and N₂-purged water in a 50 mL centrifuge tube.
  NOTE: Final molar ratio of DMA^V:Na₂S:H₂SO₄ = 1:1.6:1.6 ¹^,³^,⁴^,⁸^,¹⁵.
4. Add the prepared 40 mL of DMA^V solution (step 1.1.1) to the 50 mL of Na₂S solution contained in the 250 mL flask (step 1.1.2). Rinse the tube containing DMA^V with 10 mL of purged water and add this to the 250 mL flask as well.
5. Close the flask with a three-hole rubber stopper fitted with glass tubes. Use the glass tubes for N₂ gas inflow, outflow, and H₂SO₄ solution inlet, respectively. Immediately after closing the flask, allow N₂ gas flow into the flask.
  NOTE: Gas pressure should be maintained to flow over the surface of the reaction solution without splashing.
6. Connect acid resistant tubing to the glass tube of the H₂SO₄ solution inlet with a 50 mL syringe to add the prepared 40 mL of H₂SO₄ solution (step 1.1.3). Add 40 mL of H₂SO₄ solution, slowly and in a stepwise manner.
  Caution: Upon adding sulfuric acid, white fumes will be generated; use a well-ventilated fume hood.
7. Monitor color change of the reaction mixture in the flask while adding sulfuric acid at regular intervals. Maintain an interval of 4 - 5 mL drops of H₂SO₄; the mixture should be a white cloudy solution.
  NOTE: Instantaneous yellow precipitation might appear due to rapid addition of concentrated sulfuric acid.
8. Ensure the reaction solution has been standing for 1 h since the start of step 1.1.4.
DMMTA^V extraction using liquid-liquid extraction method
1. After 1 h, pour the reaction solution into a separatory funnel containing around 200 mL of diethyl ether.
2. Shake the funnel for 5 - 10 min, releasing gas several times by switching the stopcock.
  NOTE: Synthesized DMMTA^V will be transferred to the upper layer of diethyl ether (0.713 g·mL^-1).
  Caution: Diethyl ether gas might be harmful; use a well-ventilated fume hood.
3. Collect the reaction solution in a beaker, and separately collect the diethyl ether containing DMMTA^V in a bottle. Place the reaction solution back in the same separatory funnel and add about 200 mL of fresh diethyl ether for reshaking. Repeat steps 1.2.2 - 1.2.3 three times.
4. Pour the collected diethyl ether from step 1.2.3 into the same separatory funnel again, and add about 100 mL N₂-purged deionized water. Shake for 5 - 10 min, and discard the N₂-purged deionized water and a few mL of diethyl ether for purity purposes. Collect the remaining diethyl ether in a glass petri dish (minimum inner diameter of 160 mm and minimum height of 50 mm).
5. Transfer the glass petri dish into a N₂ atmosphere glove box to prevent species transformation.
  Caution: Ensure the solvent is not pulled into the vacuum pump through the outlet of the pass box.
6. Dry until a white precipitate of dimethylmonothioarsinate (crystalized DMMTA^V) is formed on the glass petri dish.
  NOTE: The protocol can be paused here.
Verification of synthesized DMMTA^V and storage
1. Take the white precipitate of crystalized DMMTA^V, and measure and record its total weight.
  Caution: Use a well ventilated fume hood or glove box to prevent inhalation of hydrogen sulfide gas.
2. Dissolve crystalized DMMTA^V in 50 mL of N₂-purged deionized water, and filter the yellow precipitate through a 0.2-µm syringe filter.
3. Assume the total As of used DMA^V is converted into DMMTA^V, i.e.≈9,649 mg As·L^-1. Dilute DMMTA^V stock solution to ≈1 mg·L^-1 and ≈40 µg·L^-1 for verification analysis using Electrospray ionization Mass Spectromtery (ESI-MS) and HPLC-ICP-MS, respectively.
4. Analyze m/z of DMMTA^V using ESI-MS¹¹^,¹⁶ and fragments at m/z 155 in the positive-ion mode or at m/z 153 in the negative-ion mode (Table 1).
  NOTE: See reference values of m/z (Table 1).
5. Analyze chromatogram of DMMTA^V in the stock solution using HPLC-ICP-MS¹¹^,¹⁶^,¹⁷ with appropriate eluent conditions and confirm a major peak is found at the retention time described in the literature.
  NOTE: Purity of synthesized DMMTA^V should be calculated using the analysis results from step 1.3.5.
6. Analyze the total arsenic concentration using ICP-MS after acid digestion¹¹ and calculate the true DMMTA^V concentration in synthesized DMMTA^V stock solution using dilution factors and purity, as in the following equation:
  Analyzed total As concentration (µg·L^-1) · Dilution factor · Purity (%) = True DMMTA^V concentration in DMMTA^V stock solution (µg·L^-1)
7. Store DMMTA^V stock solution at 4 °C in the dark for further quantitative speciation analysis¹⁸.

2. Synthesis of DMDTA^V

Chemical preparation and molar ratio mixing of DMA^V , Na₂S, and H₂SO₄
NOTE: DMA^V:Na₂S:H₂SO₄ = 1:7.5:7.5
1. Dissolve 1.38 g of DMA^V in 40 mL deionized water in a 50 mL centrifuge tube.
2. Prepare Na₂S reagent by dissolving 18.01 g of Na₂S·9H₂O in a 50 mL deionized water in a 250 mL flask.
3. Prepare H₂SO₄ reagent by adding 4 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid (96%) to 40 mL of deionized water contained in a 50 mL centrifuge tube.
  NOTE: Final molar ratio of DMA^V:Na₂S:H₂SO₄ = 1:7.5:7.5¹^,³^,⁴^,⁸^,¹⁵.
4. Add the prepared 40 mL of DMA^V solution (step 2.1.1) to the 50 mL of Na₂S solution contained in the 250 mL flask (step 2.1.2). Rinse the tube containing DMA^V with 10 mL of deionized water and add this to the 250 mL flask as well.
5. Add the prepared 40 mL of H₂SO₄ solution (step 2.1.3), slowly and in a stepwise manner, into the flask.
6. Monitor the color change of the reaction mixture in the flask while adding sulfuric acid at regular intervals. Maintain an interval of 4 - 5 mL drops of H₂SO₄; the mixture should be a white/yellow cloudy solution.
  NOTE: Instantaneous yellow precipitation might appear due to a rapid addition of concentrated sulfuric acid.
  Caution: Upon adding sulfuric acid, white fumes will be generated; use a well ventilated fume hood.
7. Maintain the reaction solution in the flask overnight without covering.
  NOTE: The protocol can be paused here.
DMDTA^V extraction using solid-phase extraction (SPE) method
1. After the overnight standing reaction, filter the reaction solution using a C18 syringe type silica-based SPE in order to trap synthesized DMDTA^V on the resin.
  Caution: Use a well-ventilated fume hood.
2. Prepare 10 mM ammonium acetate (pH 6.3) by dissolving 0.77 g ammonium acetate in 1 L of deionized water. Elute a sufficient volume of 10 mM ammonium acetate through the C18 syringe (step 2.2.1) to extract the adsorbed DMDTA^V. Collect the filtered ammonium acetate in a glass Petri dish (minimum inner diameter of 160 mm and minimum height of 50 mm).
3. Transfer the glass petri dish into a N₂ atmosphere glove box to prevent species transformation.
  Caution: Ensure solvent is not pulled into the vacuum pump through the outlet of the pass box.
4. Dry until a white precipitate of dimethyldithioarsinate is formed (crystalized DMDTA^V) on the glass petri dish.
  NOTE: The protocol can be paused here.
Verification of synthesized DMDTA^V and storage
1. Take the white precipitate of crystalized DMDTA^V, and measure its total weight, recording the measurement.
  Caution: Use a well-ventilated fume hood or glove box to prevent inhalation of hydrogen sulfide gas.
2. Dissolve crystalized DMDTA^V in 50 mL of N₂-purged deionized water in a 50 mL centrifuge tube, and filter any precipitate through a 0.2-µm syringe filter.
3. Assume that the total As of used DMA^V is converted into DMDTA^V, i.e.≈2,539 mg As·L^-1. Dilute DMDTA^V stock solution to ≈1 mg·L^-1 and ≈40 µg·L^-1 for verification analysis using ESI-MS and HPLC-ICP-MS, respectively.
4. Analyze m/z of DMDTA^V using ESI-MS¹¹^,¹⁶ and fragments at m/z 171 in the positive-ion mode or at m/z 169 in the negative-ion mode (Table 1).
  NOTE: See reference values of m/z (Table 1).
5. Analyze the chromatogram of DMDTA^V in the stock solution using HPLC-ICP-MS¹¹^,¹⁶^,¹⁷ with appropriate eluent conditions and confirm that a peak is found at the retention time described in the literature.
  NOTE: Purity of synthesized DMDTA^V should be calculated using the analysis results from step 2.3.5.
6. Analyze the total arsenic concentration using ICP-MS after acid digestion¹¹ and calculate the true DMDTA^V concentration in synthesized DMDTA^V stock solution using dilution factors and purity as the following equation:
  Analyzed total As concentration (µg·L^-1) · Dilution factor · Purity (%) = True DMDTA^V concentration of DMDTA^V in stock solution (µg·L^-1)
7. Store DMDTA^V stock solution at 4 °C in the dark for further quantitative speciation analysis¹⁸.

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Results

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Since DMMTA^V has been mistakenly prepared by the DMA^III synthesis method¹⁹, verification of synthesized DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V is a critical step for synthesis and extraction and determining the ideal standard chemical materials. Synthesized chemicals can be verified by the peak of DMMTA^V (MW 154 g·mol^-1) and DMDTA^V (MW 170 g·mol^-1) mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) using either th...

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Discussion

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The developed protocol has clarified critical steps that previous studies¹^,³^,⁴^,⁸^,¹⁵ omitted or abbreviated, which may have led to difficulties with or failure during DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V synthesis. As DMMTA^V is oxidation-sensitive¹^,⁵, chemical reagents for its synthesis we...

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Disclosures

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

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This research was supported by Basic Science Research program (Project number: 2016R1A2B4013467) through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning 2016 and also supported by Korea Basic Science Institute Research Program (Project number: C36707).

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Materials

List of materials used in this article
Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Cacodylic acid	Sigma-Aldrich	20835-10G-F
Sodium sulfide nonahydrate	Sigma-Aldrich	S2006-500G
Sulfuric acid 96%	J.T.Baker	0000011478
Ammonium acetate	Sigma-Aldrich	A7262-500G
Formic acid 98%	Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.	066-00461
Diethyl ether (Extra Pure)	Junsei Chemical	33475-0380
Adapter cap for 60 mL Bond Elut catridges	Agilent Technologies	12131004	Syringe type of SPE
Bond Elut C18 cartridge	Agilent Technologies	14256031	Syringe type of SPE
HyPURITY C-18	Thermo Scientific	22105-254630	5 um, 125 x 4.6 mm
Glovebox	Chungae-chun, Rep. of Korea		Customized
Agilent 1260 Infinity Bio-inert LC	Agilent Technologies	DEAB600252, DEACH00245
Agilent Technologies 7700 Series ICP-MS	Agilent Technologies	JP12031510
Finnigan LCQ Deca XP MAX Mass Spectrometer System	Thermo Electron Corporation	LDM10627

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Preparation of DMMTA^V and DMDTA^V Using DMA^V for Environmental Applications: Synthesis, Purification, and Confirmation

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Abstract

Introduction

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Results

Discussion

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References

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