Acute toxicology of butyl nitrites and butyl alcohols
Maickel, R.P.; McFadden, D.P.
Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology 26(1): 75-83
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-5164 PMID: 515511 Document Number: 140225
Commercially available isobutyl nitrite (iBN), n-butyl nitrite (nBN), sec-butyl nitrite (sBN) and tert-butyl nitrite (tBN) were found to be 63, 79, 44 and 96% pure, respectively, by GLC analysis. Pure samples of each compound were synthesized by the action of nitrous acid on each of the corresponding butyl alcohols; GLC analysis indicated greater than 99% purity for each nitrite. In determining LD50 values (mice, i.p.) for each compound, no deaths were observed after 30 min post-administration for iBN or nBN; deaths occurred up to 6 days following sBN or tBN administration. Gross post-mortem examination suggests the delayed lethality may be due to liver damage. Isobutyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl or tert-butyl alcohol administration to mice produced similar hepatotoxicity, suggesting that butyl alcohols may play a role in the hepatotoxicity observed after sBN or tBN administration. Volatile organic nitrites are popular street drugs.