4731. Homidium

Nomenclature

CAS number: 3546-21-2
3,8-Diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium; 2,7-diamino-9-phenyl-10-ethylphenanthridinium; 2,7-diamino-10-ethyl-9-phenylphenanthridinium; ethidium; RD-1572; Novidium; Babidium.
[C21H20N3]+.

Description and references

Prepn: T. I. Watkins, J. Chem. Soc. 1952, 3059; Short et al., US 2662082 (1953 to Boots Pure Drug). uv spectrum: B. Hudson, R. Jacobs, Biopolymers 14, 1309 (1975). Inhibition of DNA synthesis: B. A. Newton, J. Gen. Microbiol. 17, 718 (1957); of DNA polymerase: W. H. Elliott, Biochem. J. 86, 562 (1963). Intercalcation of double-stranded DNA: M. J. Waring, J. Mol. Biol. 13, 269 (1965); J.-B. LePecq, C. Paoletti, ibid. 27, 87 (1967). Mutagenicity studies: J. T. MacGregor, I. J. Johnson, Mutat. Res. 48, 103 (1977); G. S. Probst et al., Environ. Mutagen. 3, 11 (1981). Review of interactions with nucleic acids: J.-B. LePecq in Methods of Biochemical Analysis vol. 20, D. Glick, Ed. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1971) pp 41-86; M. Waring in Antibiotics vol. 3, J. W. Corcoran, F. E. Hahn, Eds. (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1975) pp 141-165.

Chemical structure

Derivative

Bromide.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 1239-45-8
Dromilac.
C21H20BrN3; mol wt 394.31.
C 63.97%, H 5.11%, Br 20.26%, N 10.66%.

Properties

Bitter tasting dark red crystals from alc, mp 238-240°. uv max in water: 210, 285, 316, 343 nm (ε 200-500, 5000-10000, 50000, 40000). Sol in 20 parts water and 750 parts chloroform at 20°.

Derivative

Chloride.
C21H20ClN3; mol wt 349.86.
C 72.09%, H 5.76%, Cl 10.13%, N 12.01%.

Properties

Dark red cryst powder. Crystallizes with 1 mol of ethanol. Sol in 5 parts of water at room temp.

Use

In sepn and determn of nucleic acids.

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

Antiprotozoal (Trypanosoma).