The production of trimethylarsine by <i>Penicillium brevicaule</i> (<i>Scopulariopsis brevicaulis</i>)

Abstract

CHALLENGER et al. [1933] showed that the volatile odorous product evolved from bread cultuares of Penicillium brevicaule containing arsenious acid, sodium methylarsonate CH3AsO(ONa)2 or sodium cacodylate (CH3)2AsO. ONa-the so. called Gosio-gas-is trimethylarsine. It was also found that when the arsenical substrate contains an ethyl or heavier alkyl group attached to arsenic, as in the case of ethylarsonic acid C2H5AsO(OH)2, a mixed arsine, e.g. dimethylethylarsine, (CH3)2AsC2H5, is obtained. Challenger and Ellis [1935] established also the formation of dimethyl-n-propyl-, dimethylallyland methyldiethyl-arsines using bread cultures containing n-propylarsonic, allylarsonic and diethylarsinic acids respectively.