Fluoro-Compounds 
0 
1 
Fluoroacetamide [F-CHj-C-NHp | 
0 
' 
Fluoroacetate [F-CH,-C-ONa] 
Fluoroacetate and fluoroacetamide are convulsants for the cockroach 
as well as the mouse. At high doses, hyperexcitability was followed by 
prostration and tremors. In general, fluoroacetate was more toxic to mice 
than insects. The reverse was found with fluoroacetamide, probably because 
of the higher rate of hydrolysis in insects. Fluoroacetamide was hydrolyzed 
to fluoroacetate. This then entered the tricarboxylic acid cycle where 
fluorocitrate formed and blocked the citric acid cycle by inhibition of 
aconitase (938, 1666). 
Following injection of fluoroacetate-2-C!* into intact rats, about 
3% of the label appeared in respiratory CO») and 32% in the urine within 
four days. Labeled fluorocitrate was recovered from the urine. Incor- 
poration of label into cholesterol and into both lower and higher fatty 
acid fractions was demonstrated. Other unidentified labeled materials 
were also observed (1665). 
When fluoroacetate-2-C!"* was applied to plants (Acacia geoginae, 
castor bean, peanut, pinto bean), labeled carbon dioxide was observed. 
Some label was also incorporated into water soluble fractions and lipids 
(1177). In some plant se2ads, fluoroacetate was converted into fluorine- 
containing long chain fatty acids. The main constituent apparently was 
fluorooctadecenoic acid (1667, 1668). 
Bacteria have been isolated that are capable of metabolizing both 
fluoroacetate and fluoroacetamide with release of F7~ (780). 
A pseuodomonad isolated from Potomac River mud had an enzyme capable 
of catalyzing the reaction 
F-CH,COO~ + OH + HOCH,COO- + F- 
The pH optimum was 9.3 and K, = 2.4 x 10-3 M. If the reaction proceeded 
2 ich 
