propiolattone

Propiolactone (or beta-propiolactone) is a disinfectant used in vapor form to sterilize vaccines, grafts, blood plasma, surgical instruments. It has been used against bacteria, fungi, and virus. Propiolactone was first commercially available in the United States in 1958 but then was withdrawn because it was discovered that compound was a human carcinogen. The results have shown the generation of tumors in several tissues and from different administration routes. Propiolactone is a direct-acting alkylating agent that reacts with polynucleotides and DNA, mainly at N7 of guanine and N1 of adenine, to form carboxyethyl derivatives. — NCATS