Synthesis of Fluoropyruvic Acid and some of its Biological Properties

Abstract

THE theory suggested by Martius¹ and Liebecq and Peters² for the mode of action of fluoroacetic acid assumes that fluoroacetic acid substitutes itself for its parent substance and ‘misuses’ the enzymatic apparatus normally acting on acetic acid for a ‘lethal’ synthesis of the poisonous fluorocitric acid³. While the enzymatic formation of fluorocitrate from fluoroacetic acid seems to be sufficiently established by the extensive work of Peters and his co-workers⁴, there is as yet no experimental proof that this synthesis is mediated by the same mechanism and the same enzymatic system as that by which acetate undergoes condensation with oxaloacetate to citrate. In fact, some recent results of Peters⁵ seem to point to the contrary and to suggest that fluoroacetate is not acted upon by the system capable of activating acetic acid.