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monobenzone

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EntityQ2768526· pop 14· linked from 78 articles

monobenzone

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Also known as p-benzyloxyphenol, 4-(Phenylmethoxy)phenol, Monobenzyl hydroquinone, Hydroquinone monobenzyl ether, 4-Benzyloxyphenol, p-(Benzyloxy)phenol, p-Hydroxyphenyl benzyl ether

Monobenzone, also called 4-(Benzyloxy)phenol and monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone (MBEH) is an organic chemical in the phenol family with chemical formula C6H5CH2OC6H4OH. It is used as a topical drug for medical depigmentation. It is a colourless solid that is classified as the monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone. Monobenzone is soluble in alcohol, benzene, and diethyl ether, and practically insoluble in water.

Chemical data

Formula
C13H12O2
Molecular weight
200.23 g/mol
IUPAC name
4-phenylmethoxyphenol
SMILES
C1=CC=C(C=C1)COC2=CC=C(C=C2)O
InChIKey
VYQNWZOUAUKGHI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
XLogP
3.4
Polar surface area
29.5 Ų
H-bond donors
1
H-bond acceptors
2
Formal charge
0

via PubChem

Drug data · ChEMBL

Max clinical phase
Approved
Molecule type
Small molecule
First approval
1952
Admin. routes
topical

via ChEMBL · EBI

Wikidata facts

Mass
200.08373
Has use
medication
Show 6 more facts
medical condition treated
pigmentation disorder
chemical formula
C₁₃H₁₂O₂
canonical SMILES
C1=CC=C(C=C1)COC2=CC=C(C=C2)O
World Health Organisation international non-proprietary name
monobenzone
melting point
120
Commons category
Monobenzone
Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~1 min read

Encyclopedic overview

4 sections
Contents
  • Pharmacology
  • References
  • Further reading
  • External links

Monobenzone, also called 4-(Benzyloxy)phenol and monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone (MBEH) is an organic chemical in the phenol family with chemical formula C6H5CH2OC6H4OH. It is used as a topical drug for medical depigmentation. It is a colourless solid that is classified as the monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone. Monobenzone is soluble in alcohol, benzene, and diethyl ether, and practically insoluble in water.

==Pharmacology== The topical application of monobenzone in animals increases the excretion of melanin from melanocytes. The same action is thought to be responsible for the depigmenting effect of the drug in humans. Monobenzone may cause destruction of melanocytes and permanent depigmentation.

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