1059. Benzalkonium Chloride

Nomenclature

CAS number: 8001-54-5
Alkylbenzyldimethyl quaternary ammonium compounds chlorides; alkyldimethyl(phenylmethyl)ammonium chloride; Baktonium (Bode); Benirol (Linobion); Bradosol (Novartis); Callusolve (Dermal); Capitol (Dermal); Laudamonium (Henkel); Osvan (Takeda); Pharmatex (Innothéra); Roccal (Sanofi-Synthelabo); Sagrotan (Schülke & Mayr); Zephiran (Sanofi-Synthelabo); Zephirol (Bayer).

Description and references

A mixture of alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chlorides; three major homologues consist of C12, C14 and C16 straight chain alkyls. Prepn and biological activity: R. A. Cutler et al., Proc. Annu. Meet. Chem. Spec. Manuf. Assoc. 1966, 102. Acute toxicity data: L. M. Cummins, E. T. Kimura, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 20, 89 (1971). Capillary electrophoretic determn in formulations: M. Jimidar et al., Biomed. Chromatogr. 12, 128 (1998); MS determn on skin: S. Kawakami et al., Analyst 123, 489 (1998). Efficacy as disinfecting wound irrigant: B. B. Tarbox et al., Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. 1998, 255. Use as disinfectant against viruses: A. Wood, D. Payne, J. Hosp. Infect. 38, 283 (1998). Brief review: A. C. S. Parr et al., Spec. Chem. 16, 157-160 (1996).

Chemical structure

Properties

White or yellowish-white, amorphous powder or gelatinous pieces. Very sol in water, alcohol, acetone; slightly sol in benzene. Almost insol in ether. The aq soln is slightly alkaline to litmus and foams strongly when shaken. LD50 orally in rats: 400 mg/kg (Cummins, Kimura).

Use

Cationic surface active agent and germicide. Pharmaceutic aid (preservative). Algicide.

Therapeutic Category

Antiseptic, disinfectant.

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

Antiseptic for skin preoperatively or for wounds, burns, etc. Udder wash.

Keywords

Antiseptic/Disinfectant; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds