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mechlorethamine

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mechlorethamine

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Also known as Mustargen®, mustine, nitrogen mustard, nitrogen mustard N-oxide hydrochloride, methylbis(2-chloroethyl)amine, N-methyl-bis(2-chloroethyl)amine, 2,2'-dichloro-N-methyldiethylamine, N-methyl-bis(beta-chloroethyl)amine

Chlormethine (INN, BAN), also known as mechlorethamine (USAN, USP), mustine, HN2, and (in post-Soviet states) embikhin (эмбихин), is a nitrogen mustard sold under the brand name Mustargen among others. It is the prototype of alkylating agents, a group of anticancer chemotherapeutic drugs. It works by binding to DNA, crosslinking two strands and preventing cell duplication. It binds to the N7 nitrogen on the DNA base guanine. As the chemical is a blister agent, its use is strongly restricted within the Chemical Weapons Convention where it is classified as a Schedule 1 substance.

Chemical data

Formula
C5H11Cl2N
Molecular weight
156.05 g/mol
IUPAC name
2-chloro-N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-methylethanamine
SMILES
CN(CCCl)CCCl
InChIKey
HAWPXGHAZFHHAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N
XLogP
0.9
Polar surface area
3.2 Ų
H-bond donors
0
H-bond acceptors
1
Formal charge
0

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Research

6,025 papers

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Encyclopedic overview

5 sections
Contents
  • Uses
  • Side effects and toxicity
  • History
  • Chemistry
  • References

Chlormethine (INN, BAN), also known as mechlorethamine (USAN, USP), mustine, HN2, and (in post-Soviet states) embikhin (эмбихин), is a nitrogen mustard sold under the brand name Mustargen among others. It is the prototype of alkylating agents, a group of anticancer chemotherapeutic drugs. It works by binding to DNA, crosslinking two strands and preventing cell duplication. It binds to the N7 nitrogen on the DNA base guanine. As the chemical is a blister agent, its use is strongly restricted within the Chemical Weapons Convention where it is classified as a Schedule 1 substance.

Mechlorethamine belongs to the group of nitrogen mustard alkylating agents.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “mechlorethamine” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.