Manufacture of a Compound of Mercuric Phenolparasulphonate with Ammonium Tartrate.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 27th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Manufacture of a Compound of Mercuric Phenolparasulphonate with
Ammonium Tartrate.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings, in
the County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention (as communicated to me from abroad by the Firm of F. Hoffmann-
La Roche & Co., of Basle, Switzerland, Chemical Manufacturers) and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
Among mercury salts soluble in water mercuric chloride is still most com-
monly used as an antiseptic, notwithstanding that its highly poisonous and
caustic properties and its power. of precipitating albumin render its use unde-
sirable. The many experiments conducted for the purpose of preparing mercury
derivatives having antiseptic properties equal to those of mercuric chloride with-
out the injurous characteristics of that salt, have resulted, indeed, in the pro-
duction of a series of compounds, none of which, however, has fulfilled
expectations.
Thus, a solution of the compound of mercuric chloride with urea has been
used, mercuric ethyl chloride has been prepared and such mercuric salts as the
citrate, acetate, cyanide, arsenite, cyanate, phenol-acetate, naphtholacetate and
silicofluoride. Double mercury compounds have also been employed, such as
ammonium mercuric chloride, phenol mercuric acetate and the like.
All these substitutes for mercuric chloride share with this salt the disadvan-
tages that they precipitate albumin and attack surgical instruments; moreover
the majority of them have a less antiseptic action than mercuric chloride has.
Mercuric oxycyanide can alone be considered as comparable with the chloride,
but it attacks the instruments considerably so that surgeons still prefer a solu-
tion of carbolic acid or of a soap containing cresol to mercuric chloride or oxy-
cyanide solution as a disinfectant for their instruments.
It is known that "mercuric para-sulphocarbolate" (hydrargyrum parasulpho-
phenylicum) unlike other soluble mercuric salts, does not precipitate albumin,
while it does precipitate the toxines. The objection to the use of this salt, how-
ever, is that it is decomposed not only by dilute acids and dilute alcohol but
when the attempt is made to dissolve it in water it decomposes with separation
of 'basic salts.
By the present invention my foreign correspondents prepare a stable com-
pound of mercuric phenolparasulphonate possessed of the valuable properties of
this salt.
For this purpose one molecular proportion of mercuric phenolparasulphonate
and four molecular proportions (or any desired larger proportion) of ammonium
tartrate are dissolved together, whereupon there is formed a peculiar double salt
which does not decompose, even when the solution is evaporated, and contains
15 per cent. of mercuric oxide.

page_text: EXAMPLE.
4.32 kilos. of vellow mercuric oxide are dissolved in the proper molecular pro-
portion (2076 kilos.) of phenolparasulphonic acid of 331 per cent. strength.
To the warm solution there are added 1344 kilos. of crystallised tartaric acid.
the mixture is neutralised by adding 135 kilos. of a solution of ammonia of
20 per cent, strength and the solution is evaporated to dryness on the steam bath.
being stirred meanwhile.
The solution of mercuric oxide in phenolparasulphonic acid may be added to
the ammonium tartrate instead of as prescribed above, the rest of the procedure
being the same.
The composition of the new double salt corresponds with the formula
(CHOS,Hg). 4 [C,H,O₂(NH),]+HO which should contain 15'l per cent.
of Hg. By analysis 15 per cent. was found. The salt dissolves easily in warm
water and even its concentrated solutions remain clear when cooled.
That the product in question is an individual compound is shewn by the fact
that it dissolves easily in water while mercuric phenolparasulphonate is insoluble
in water and only dissolves in ammonium tartrate solution when at least
4 molecules thereof are present to 1 molecule of the mercuric salt, and even
then the dissolution is very slow, whereas the new double compound dissolves
quickly and easily. The compound cannot be obtained by merely mixing mer-
eurie phenolparasulphonate and ammonium tartrate, evaporation being necessary.
The mercury in the compound cannot be recognised by the ordinary reagents.
Sulphuretted hydrogen precipitates black mercuric sulphide only on warming
the solution during a long time and ammonium sulphide gives the same pre-
cipitate only on heating the solution.
Bacteriological and clinical experiments have demonstrated the therapeutic
value of this material and its advantages over mercuric chloride and other usual
mercury compounds, namely its easy solubility in water, its greater antiseptic
power and its less poisonous and non-caustic character.
The new compound does not precipitate albumin so that its action makes itself
felt in the interior of the wound, and it does not attack iron even when long in
contact therewith. so that when it is used carbolic solution or solution of soap
containing cresol for disinfecting the instrument is unnecessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The herein described manufacture of a compound of mercuric phenolpara-
sulphonate with ammonium tartrate by dissolving freshly prepared mercuric
phenolparasulphonate with tartaric acid to which ammonia is afterwards added,
and evaporating to dryness.
2. The compound of mercuric phenolparasulphonate with ammonium tartrate,
manufactured as above set forth.
Doted thi 2011 J
el 1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.