Lithium lactate is a chemical compound, a salt of lithium and lactic acid with the formula CH3CH(OH)COOLi,[4] an amorphous solid, very soluble in water.[5]
Synthesis
Synthesis is by neutralization of lactic acid with lithium hydroxide:
LiOH + CH3CH(OH)COOH → CH3CH(OH)COOLi + H2O
Physical properties
Lithium lactate forms an amorphous solid.
It dissolves very well in water[6] and organic solvents.
Lithium lactate emits acrid smoke when heated to decomposition.[7]
Chemical properties
Lithium lactate reacts with triphosgene to obtain lactic acid-O-internal anhydride.[8] It can be used as a precursor to prepare Li4SiO4,[9] Li4Ti5O12/C[10] and other materials.
Use
Lithium lactate is part of drugs that promote the excretion of uric acid from the body.[11] This is linked to a historical use of lithium to help remove uric acid, but it was later shown that doses needed for it to work would be toxic.[12]
^Marmol F (December 2008). "Lithium: bipolar disorder and neurodegenerative diseases Possible cellular mechanisms of the therapeutic effects of lithium". Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry. 32 (8): 1761–1771. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2008.08.012. PMID18789369. S2CID25861243.