Phenylarsonic acid

Phenylarsonic acid is the chemical compound with the formula C6H5AsO(OH)2, commonly abbreviated PhAsO3H2.

This colourless solid is an organic derivative of arsenic acid, AsO(OH)3, where one OH group has been replaced by a phenyl group.

PhAsO3H2 can be prepared in several routes, but a common one entails treatment of phenyl diazonium salts with sodium arsenite (prepared from arsenious acid and base) in the presence of a copper(II) catalyst.

[3][4][5] X-ray crystallography indicates that the molecules are connected by hydrogen-bonds consistent with short distance of 2.5 Å separating the oxygen atoms.

[6] Several derivatives of phenylarsonic acid have been used as additives for animal feeds.

Stereo structural formula of phenylarsonic acid
Stereo structural formula of phenylarsonic acid
Ball-and-stick model of the phenylarsonic acid molecule