Handling Beryllium, the Safe Way

Abstract

This paper discusses the legislative response to handling beryllium and its compounds as well as the administrative regulations resulting from their classification as potential human carcinogens. We describe necessary technical, organizational, and personal safety measures to comply with worker protection legislation and to ensure safe work with beryllium and its compounds. We conclude with detailed solutions to problems arising from the health hazards of beryllium.

Beryllium‐Mediated Halide and Aryl Transfer onto Silicon

“…Beryllium and its compounds are categorized as human carcinogens and work with these substances is associated with severe health hazards. [20] As the biochemical mechanisms that cause beryllium associated diseases are still unknown, [21][22][23] special (safety) precautions are strongly advised. [20] Details on the synthesis, experimental setup, and characterization of the described compounds are given in the Supporting Information.…”

“…Caution ! Beryllium and its compounds are categorized as human carcinogens and work with these substances is associated with severe health hazards [20] . As the biochemical mechanisms that cause beryllium associated diseases are still unknown, [21–23] special (safety) precautions are strongly advised [20] .…”

“…[19] In general, little is known about beryllium siloxane and silanolate complexes due to the severe health hazards associated with beryllium and its compounds. [20][21][22][23] Only eight compounds are known, which contain a Si-O-Be unit. One is a beryllium silsesquioxane by Edelmann et al [24] Five complexes contain [OSiMe 3 ] À units, of which the three beryllates by Dehnicke and Neumüller [Be 2 Cl 5 (OSiMe 3 )] 2À , [25] [Be 2 Cl 4 (OSiMe 3 ) 2 ] 2À [26] and [Be 2 (N 3 ) 4 (OSiMe 3 ) 2 ] 2À [27] were obtained from the reaction of chlorido or azido beryllates with Me 3 Si-OH.…”

“…This is presumably due to Si‐O bond cleavage, as seen with partially silicon based crown ethers in the presence of BeCl 2 [19] . In general, little is known about beryllium siloxane and silanolate complexes due to the severe health hazards associated with beryllium and its compounds [20–23] . Only eight compounds are known, which contain a Si‐O‐Be unit.…”

Gauging ambiphilicity of pseudo-halidesviaberyllium-trispyrazolylborato compounds

“…With an atomic number of four and the smallest atomic and ionic radius of all metals, beryllium seemed the element of choice. However, due to the health hazard associated with beryllium and its compounds, [8][9][10] little is known on beryllium pseudo-halides. While the solid state structure of Be(CN) 2 is known to exhibit a 3D coordination network with bridging cyanido ligands, 11 the structures of the other binary beryllium pseudo-halides, Be(N 3 ) 2 , 12 Be(NCS) 2 and Be(NCO) 2 are unknown.…”