Title: Phenacetin
CAS Registry Number: 62-44-2
CAS Name: N-(4-Ethoxyphenyl)acetamide
Synonyms: p-acetophenetidide;
p-ethoxyacetanilide; acetophenetidin;
para-acetphenetidin; acet-
p-phenetidin;
p-acetophenetide
Molecular Formula: C10H13NO2
Molecular Weight: 179.22
Percent Composition: C 67.02%, H 7.31%, N 7.82%, O 17.85%
Literature References: Prepn:
Beilstein vol. XIII, 461. Improved process: Eaker, Campbell,
US 2887513 (1959 to Monsanto).
Monograph: P. K. Smith,
Acetophenetidin (Interscience, New York, 1958) 180 pp. Toxicity: Boyd,
Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 1, 240 (1959). Review of toxicity and metabolism studies: L. Fishbein,
IARC Sci. Publ. 40, 287-310 (1981). Epidemiologic study of renal morbidity and mortality: U. C. Dubach
et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 308, 357 (1983). Evaluation of renal effects: D. P. Sandler
et al., ibid. 320, 1238 (1989).
Properties: Slightly bitter, cryst scales or powder. mp 134-135°. One gram dissolves in 1310 ml cold water, 82 ml boiling water; 15 ml cold alcohol, 2.8 ml boiling alcohol; 14 ml chloroform, 90 ml ether; sol in glycerol. Gives a pasty mass with phenol, chloral hydrate or pyrocatechol, strong acids or alkalies, salicylic acid, oxidizers, iodine, spirit nitrous ether. LD50 orally in rats: 1.65 g/kg (Boyd).
Melting point: mp 134-135°
Toxicity data: LD50 orally in rats: 1.65 g/kg (Boyd)
NOTE: Component of
APC tablets, analgesic mixture also containing aspirin and caffeine.
CAUTION: Phenacetin is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen; analgesic mixtures containing phenacetin are listed as known human carcinogens:
Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition (PB2005-104914, 2004) p III-212.
Therap-Cat: Analgesic, antipyretic.
Therap-Cat-Vet: Analgesic, antipyretic.
Keywords: Analgesic (Non-Narcotic); Antipyretic.