α-Chloralose

Description

Chloralose, (R)-1,2-O-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene)- α-D-glucofuranose, is a crystalline powder which is soluble in water, fairly soluble in alcohol, diethyl ether, glacial acetic acid, sparingly soluble in chloroform, practically insoluble in petroleum ether.
Chloralose is produced by reaction of glucose with waterfree chloral under heating (21).

Chemical properties

needle-like crystals or powder

The Uses of α-Chloralose

Coating seeds to protect them from birds.

The Uses of α-Chloralose

Chloralose is used for the control of rodents, particularly mice, and as a bird repellent and a bird narcotic.

The Uses of α-Chloralose

It has been employed widely as an animal anesthetic in the laboratory setting. alpha-chloralose is a true anesthetic or an immobilizing agent with sedative-hypnotic properties has important implications. Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and blue geese (Chen caerulescens) were caught with alpha-chloralose, an oral hypnotic administered on bait. Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) were captured with alpha-chloralose, an oral anesthetic.

What are the applications of Application

α-Chloralose is a compound studied for its effect on presynaptic GABAA receptors

Hazard

May cause addiction, highly toxic.

Safety Profile

Poison by ingestion, subcutaneous, and intraperitoneal routes. Questionable carcinogen with experimental tumorigenic data. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Cl-.

Metabolic pathway

Chloralose is effectively a chloral generator which, in turn, affords trichloroethanol by metabolism. This is the narcotic agent. Sleep is induced in mice before death and therefore the compound is regarded as a humane mouse killer. It is particularly effective when a quick clearout is required but there is evidence that mice can become tolerant.

Degradation

Chloralose is hydrolysed by acid and base to glucose and chloral (2, trichloroacetaldehyde).