AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph CAS Number 27220-47-9 IUPHAR/BPS 2446 CAS ID 27220-47-9 | MedlinePlus a684049 PubChem CID 3198 Molar mass 381.683 g/mol | |
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ATC code D01AC03 (WHO) G01AF05 (WHO) | ||
Econazole (commonly used as the nitrate salt) is an antifungal medication of the imidazole class. It is used as a cream under the brand names Spectazole (United States), Ecostatin (Canada), Pevaryl (Western Europe), and Pevisone (the latter consisting of the combination econazole/triamcinolone) to treat skin infections such as athlete's foot, tinea, pityriasis versicolor, ringworm, and jock itch. It is also sold in Canada under the brand name Ecostatin as vaginal ovules to treat vaginal thrush. In Asia, it is sold under the brand name Endix-G (by Dongkwang, Korea), while in Thailand, it is sold as Ecosone by Qualimed. In Taiwan, it is sold as Vivicome Cream, manufactured by Yong Chang Pharmaceuticals. In Egypt, it is sold as a foam spray by ATM. In Bangladesh, it is sold under the brand name Ecoderm by Rephco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The combination of econazole nitrate with triamcinolone acetonide is also available under the brand name Ecoderm-TA. Econazole nitrate exhibits strong anti-feeding properties against the keratin-digesting common clothes moth Tineola bisselliella.
Contents
Adverse effects
About 3% of patients treated with econazole nitrate cream reported side effects. The most common symptoms were burning, itching, erythema, and one outbreak of a pruritic rash.
Synthesis
Imidazoles devoid of the nitro group no longer have any antiprotozoal activity, however, such drugs are effective antifungal agents.
Alkylation of imidazole (2) with bromoketone (1) prepared from o,p-dichloroacetophenone affords the displacement product (3). Reduction of the ketone with sodium borohydride gives the corresponding alcohol (4). Alkylation of the alkoxide from that alcohol with p-chlorobenzyl chloride leads to econazole (5); alkylation with o,p-dichlorobenzyl chloride gives miconazole.
