Synthesis of (3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-phosphonic acid

CHED 470

Ian Michael Yarger, yargerim@westminster.edu and Brian W. Kail, b_kail@hotmail.com. Department of Chemistry, Westminster College, S. Market Street, New Wilmington, PA 16172
3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid (roxarsone) used as a food additive for broiler chickens decomposes in composting litter introducing inorganic Ar (V) and other arsenic containing compounds into the environment. Possible biotransformation of roxarsone, by Clostridium species under anaerobic conditions, has shown production of inorganic As (V) as well as other harmful arsenic containing compounds. Synthesis of (3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-phosphonic acid, a compound structurally similar to roxarsone, will allow for the investigation of NO2 reducing physiology without the toxicity associated with roxarsone's arsenic containing metabolic byproducts.