International programme on Chemical Safety
Poisons Information Monograph 981
Chemical
Pinacolyl Alcohol
Aliphatic alcohol
tert-Butyl methyl carbinol; 3,3-Dimethyl-2-butanol
Number:
RTECS number: El2276000
Harmonised systems: 2905.19
EC number: 207-347-9
Pinacolyl Alcohol (6CI)
Aldrich Chemical Co.
CNS depression and nephrotoxicity has been observed in animal studies.
Inhalation studies with rats have shown ataxia, mild hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and lacrimation. The Rats also showed depressed respiration and reduced motor activity upon exposure. Biochemical investigations showed increased serum cholesterol and bilirubin. Exposure effected the kidney, ureter, and bladder showing changes in the tubules including acute tubular necrosis and renal failure.
Structural similarities to ethanol suggest clinical effects may be similar ie. CNS depression, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, acidosis, electrolyte imbalances, and GI upset
Diagnosis is based on history of exposure and clinical features.
First aid measures are similar to ethanol and other related alcohols. Treatment is mainly supportive.
Synthetic
Structural formula
(CH3)3-C-CHOH-CH 3
Molecular formula; C6H14O
Molecular weight; 102.2
Structural names; 2-Butanol, 3,3-Dimethyl-; 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol; 3.3- Dimethylbutane-2-ol.
Colourless
Liquid-unknown
|
Boiling point = 119°C to 121°C |
(Verschueren 1996) |
|
Melting Point = 4.8°C |
(Verschueren 1996) |
|
Specific gravity = 0.812 |
(Wilhoit & Zwolinski 1973) |
|
Flash Point =28°C |
(Wilhoit & Zwolinski 1973) |
|
Density at 25°C g cm-3 = 0.8139 |
(Wilhoit & Zwolinski 1973) |
|
Refractive Index, nD at 25°C = 1.4132 |
(Wilhoit & Zwolinski 1973) |
|
Heat of Vaporisation at the boiling Point: tb,°C = 120. |
(Wilhoit & Zwolinski 1973) |
|
Heat of Vaporisation at the boiling Point: delta Hv kcal mol-1 |
(Wilhoit & Zwolinski 1973) |
Incompatibilities:
Strong Acids
Strong Oxidising Agents
Strong Reducing Agents
Acid Chlorides
Acid Anhydrides
Phosphorous Halides (Aldrich Chemical Co. 1998)
Hazardous combustion or decomposition. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating vapours (Lewis. 1996), products with toxic fumes of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide (Aldrich Chemical Co. 1998)
Precursor to chemical warfare agents (such as Soman)
Possibility of exposure to workers during manufacture, formulation, packing, transport, and storage, therefore exposure will be primarily through inhalation or eye contact though dermal adsorption is possible.
Manufacturing plant operators
No data available for human absorption. (physio-chemical relationship to ethanol and related alcohols suggest it would be absorbed by this route.).
Absorption through pulmonary epithelium and mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Shown in rats (James et al, 1987).
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No human data available. In rats it is suggested that pinacolyl alcohol is metabolised by alcohol dehydrogenase with the major metabolite being pinacolone (James et al, 1987).
No human data available. In rats it is metabolised to pinacolone which is then exhaled (James et al, 1987).
No data available, but expected to be similar to ethanol and related alcohols.
No data available.
No data available.
LCLo Rat inhalation 3600 ppm / 2.3 H (James et al, 1987).
Rats showed behavioural effects - ataxia, exposure to 5 mg/l for 5 H causes mild hypoxemia and hypercapnia (James et al, 1987).
TCLo Rat 4930 mg/m3 for 6 hour exposure period per day for 13 week inhalation study (James et al, 1987). Clinical signs related to exposure were alopecia, ataxia and lacrimation. Suggested difference in sex susceptibility
No observed effect level male rat 0.2 mg/l
No observed effect level female rat 1.0 mg/l
Rats showed depressed respiration and reduced motor activity upon exposure. Blood levels showed increased serum cholesterol and bilirubin. Exposure affected the kidney, ureter, and bladder showing changes in the tubules including acute renal failure and acute tubular necrosis. Suggested possibility of changes in ovarian weight.
No data available
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available. Rat data showed ataxia, also mild hypoxemia and hypercapnia(James et al, 1987).. These signs indicate some similar effects as those with ethanol exposure.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available. Rat data showed alopecia, ataxia and lacrimation as well as depressed respiration and reduced motor activity for chronic exposure 6 hours a day over a 13 week period by inhalation (James et al, 1987).
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No human data available. Rats showed depressed respiration with chronic inhalational exposure.
No human data available. Rat studies shown to have similar effects to ethanol on the CNS, ataxia, and CNS depression (James et al 1987).
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No human data available. Rat data showed the kidney, ureter, and bladder to be effected, changes in the tubules including acute renal failure and acute tubular necrosis in some cases (James et al, 1987).
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available. Due to similarity to ethanol similar effects may occur i.e. CNS depression, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, acidosis, electrolyte imbalances, and GI upset (see Intox PIM for ethanol).
No data available. Similarity to ethanol in effects for inhalation would suggest some of the ethanol management principles could be applied. Assess airways, breathing and circulation and provide support if necessary. Decontaminate by removing contaminated clothing. Monitor fluid/electrolytes, glucose and airway management. Avoid aspiration of vomitus.
Assess airways breathing and circulation and support if necessary.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
No data available.
Aldrich Chemical Co. Material Safety Data Sheet - 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol. 1998
Intox CD Rom (2001) Ethanol PIM.
James JT, Armstrong RD, Leach G, Farrand RL, Burnett D, Englee MJ & Hall WC (1987) A 13-week vapour study of 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol in sprague-dawley rats. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 7(2): 135-142
James JT, Infiesto BP & Landauer MR (1987) Acute inhalation Toxicity of 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol in sprague dawley rats. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 7(5): 307-312
Lewis JR,SR. (1996) Sax's Dangerous Properties of industrial materials, ninth edition. Van Nostrand Reinhold an International Thomson Publishing company
Verchueren K (1996) Handbook of environmental data on organic chemicals, 3rd ed. Van Nostrand Reinhold an International Thomson Publishing company
Wilhoit RC & Zwolinski BJ ed. (1973) Physical and Thermodynamic Properties of Aliphatic Alcohols. Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference data Vol 2, Supplement No.1
Daniel W Moore
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
University of Otago
P. O. Box 913
Dunedin
New Zealand
PEER REVIEWED GROUP
Ligia Fruchtengarten, Mahdi Balali-Mood, Wayne Temple, Nigel Langford
Edinburgh September 2001
See Also:
Toxicological Abbreviations