Dimercaptosuccinic acid

  Dimercaptosuccinic acid, or DMSA, is the chemical compound with the formula HO₂CCH(SH)CH(SH)CO₂H. This colourless solid contains two carboxylic acid and two thiol groups, the latter being responsible for the mildly unpleasant odour of this dicarboxylic acid. It occurs in two diastereomeric forms, meso and the chiral dl forms. The meso isomer is used as chelating agent.

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Meso 2,3-dimecaptosuccinic acid is used to sequester heavy metals such as mercury and lead for excretion. DMSA can cross the blood-brain barrier, and thus is useful for extracting heavy metals from the brain.^[1]

DMSA is also called succimer and is sold under the brand name Chemet®. The dimethylester is also known.^[2]

References

1. ^ Aasath, Jan; Dag Jacobsen, Ole Andersen, Elsa Wickstrøm (March 1995). "Treatment of Mercury and Lead Poisonings with Dimercaptosuccinic Acid (DMSA) and Sodium Dimercaptopropanesulfonate (DMPS)". Analyst 120: 853ff.
2. ^ M. Gerecke, E. A. H. Friedheim, A. Brossi (1961). "Zur Kenntnis der 2,3-Dimercapto-bernsteinsäuren". Helvetica Chimca Acta: 955-960. doi:10.1002/hlca.19610440410.

See also

• Chelation therapy
• 2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic_acid
• EDTA
• Heavy metal poisoning
• Mercury poisoning
• Tartaric acid