aromatic compounds drugs medicines in pharmaceutical industry found in natural products in plants advanced A level organic chemistry revision notes doc brown

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Advanced Level Organic Chemistry: Aromatic compounds in nature & pharmaceuticals

Part 7. The chemistry of AROMATIC COMPOUNDS

Doc Brown's Chemistry Advanced Level Pre-University Chemistry Revision Study Notes for UK KS5 A/AS GCE IB advanced level organic chemistry students US K12 grade 11 grade 12 organic chemistry

Part 7.13 Examples of aromatic compounds from the pharmaceutical industry and examples of aromatic compounds found in natural products

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Examples of synthetic aromatic compounds from the pharmaceutical industry

molecular structure of Paracetamol Ibuprofen Aspirin structural formula doc brown's advanced A level organic chemistry notes

Examples of analgesics - pain-killers - anti-inflammatory drugs

Acetylsalicylic acid is one chemical name for the brand Aspirin.

N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanamide is the IUPAC name for the brand Paracetamol.

2-(4-(2-methylpropyl)phenyl)propanoic acid is the IUPAC name for the brand Ibuprofen.

diagram of manufacture synthesis of the drug paracetamol benzene phenol 4-nitrophenol 4-amibophenol N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanamide

Phenol is manufactured from benzene by several different processes.

(The details not required, but you should know the last three reactions in the synthesis route.)

C₆H₆ == [O] ==> C₆H₅OH

Phenol is nitrated with nitric acid to give mainly 4-nitrophenol (desired product) and some 2-nitrophenol.

C₆H₅OH + HNO₃ ===> O₂NC₆H₄OH + H₂O

The 2-nitrophenol is removed by steam distillation to leave mainly 4-nitrophenol.

Note the desired orientation of the intermediates so that the final product's orientation is correct.

The 4-nitrophenol is reduced with hydrogen (Ni catalyst ?) to 4-aminophenol.

O₂NC₆H₄OH + 6[H] ===> H₂NC₆H₄OH + 2H₂O

4-aminophenol is ethanoylated with ethanoic anhydride to yield N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanamide aka 'Paracetamol'

H₂NC₆H₄OH + (CH₃CO)₂O ===> CH₃CONHC₆H₄OH + CH₃COOH

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Examples of naturally occurring aromatic compounds - the natural occurrence of the benzene ring!

Use of the term 'aromatic' derives from the smell of oil from natural products - usually 'aromatic' plants.

Today the term refers to compounds containing a benzene ring, fused benzene rings or other ringed compounds that chemically behave as an aromatic compound.

Aromatic compounds from the natural world often have a strong pleasing smell and are naturally found in wine, spices, perfumes, fragrance oils, and essential oils extracted from plants.

The simplest aromatic aldehyde, benzaldehyde (right) smell's of almonds and is a naturally occurring compound found in bitter almond oil. It is synthesised by the chemical industry for use in food flavourings and fragrances in the perfume industry.

Salicin (below) is a naturally found in the bark of willow and poplar trees. For thousands of years it was known to have a pain-killing action when ingested, it is an anti-inflammatory agent. The Salicin molecule consists of a phenol attached by an ether linkage to hexose sugar molecule.

molecular chemical history of Aspirin Salicin acetylsalicylic acid acetyl-2-hydroxybenzoic acid soluble aspirin analgesic pain-killer anti-inflammatory drug medicine

The search for molecules having a similar effect. Salicylic acid (2-hydroxybenzoic acid) is derived from the metabolism of Salicin and is used in medical treatment. However, synthetic acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) was found to be a more effective painkiller. Soluble Aspirin is absorbed more quickly minimising irritating the stomach.

skeletal formula for morphine codeine heroin moleculat structure opium opiates alkaloids drugs molecular structure structural formula advanced organic chemistry

The benzene ring even turns up opiates (a type of alkaloids) such as naturally occurring morphine, codeine and heroin, but these are not classed as aromatic compounds.

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