Skip to content
EntityQ416108· pop 14· linked from 599 articles

Also known as O,O-diethyl O-p-nitrophenyl phosphate, p-nitrophenyl diethyl phosphate, ethyl paraoxon, diethyl paraoxon, phosphacol, diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate, phosphoric acid diethyl 4-nitrophenyl ester

Paraoxon is a parasympathomimetic drug which acts as an cholinesterase inhibitor. It is an organophosphate oxon, and the active metabolite of the insecticide parathion. It is also used as an ophthalmological drug against glaucoma. Paraoxon is one of the most potent acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides available, around 70% as potent as the nerve agent sarin, and so is now rarely used as an insecticide due to the risk of poisoning to humans and other animals. Paraoxon has been used by scientists to study acute and chronic effects of organophosphate intoxication. It is easily absorbed th

Wikidata facts

Mass
275.056
Show 3 more facts
chemical formula
C₁₀H₁₄NO₆P
canonical SMILES
CCOP(=O)(OCC)OC1=CC=C(C=C1)[N+](=O)[O-]
Commons category
Paraoxon
Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~1 min read

Article

2 sections
Contents
  • See also
  • References

Paraoxon is a parasympathomimetic drug which acts as an cholinesterase inhibitor. It is an organophosphate oxon, and the active metabolite of the insecticide parathion. It is also used as an ophthalmological drug against glaucoma. Paraoxon is one of the most potent acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides available, around 70% as potent as the nerve agent sarin, and so is now rarely used as an insecticide due to the risk of poisoning to humans and other animals. Paraoxon has been used by scientists to study acute and chronic effects of organophosphate intoxication. It is easily absorbed through skin, and was allegedly used as an assassination weapon by the apartheid-era South African chemical weapons program Project Coast.

EA-1370 is a phosphonate analogue, isopropyl para-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate, the junction of the nerve agent sarin with the leaving group of paraoxon. Contact with the fluoride ion in a polar-aprotic solvent regenerates it to sarin.

Connections

Categories