Effect of Alkylation on the Kinetic Stability of Arsenodiester and Organoarsenicals against Hydrolysis: A Theoretical Study

Abstract

Arsenic diesters have same structural and chemical properties as Pi (phosphate) diester. Beside this structural similarity, arsenate is not considered by cellular processes to replace phosphate. Quantum calculation reveals that this happens due to very high hydrolysis rate of Asi diester (As–O-bond-based compounds) as compared to Pi, but how organoarsenicals (As–C-bond-based compounds) that are produced by alkylation of Asi survive in highly aqueous tissues of marine organisms? We found that this alkylation results in lower hydrolysis rate of Asi diester. Our work concluded that alkylating effort by our body on Asi is to avoid structural ambiguity with phosphate and excrete out arsenic in the form of organoarsenicals from body.

Keywords

• arsenic
• arsenobetaine
• arsenocholine
• arsenosugar
• DMA
• MMA
• arsenate organoarsenicals
• arsonic acid
• hydrolysis