Mequinol, MeHQ or 4-methoxyphenol, is a
phenol used in
dermatology and
organic chemistry.
Uses
Dermatology
Mequinol is a common
active ingredient in
topical drugs used for skin
depigmentation. As a topical drug mequinol is often mixed with
tretinoin, a topical
retinoid
The retinoids are a class of chemical compounds that are vitamers of vitamin A or are chemically related to it. Retinoids have found use in medicine where they regulate epithelial cell growth.
Retinoids have many important functions throughout t ...
. A common
formulation
Formulation is a term used in various senses in various applications, both the material and the abstract or formal. Its fundamental meaning is the putting together of components in appropriate relationships or structures, according to a formul ...
for this drug is an
ethanolic solution of 2% mequinol and 0.01% tretinoin by mass.
s commonly prescribe the drug to treat
liver spots.
Lower dosages of mequinol have been used in conjunction with a
Q-switched
Q-switching, sometimes known as giant pulse formation or Q-spoiling, is a technique by which a laser can be made to produce a pulsed output beam. The technique allows the production of light pulses with extremely high (gigawatt) peak power, much hi ...
laser to depigment skin in patients with
disseminated idiopathic vitiligo.
Organic chemistry
In organic chemistry 4-methoxyphenol is used as a
polymerisation inhibitor (e.g.
acrylates or
styrene monomers).
Preparation
4-Methoxyphenol is produced from
p-benzoquinone
1,4-Benzoquinone, commonly known as ''para''-quinone, is a chemical compound with the formula C6H4O2. In a pure state, it forms bright-yellow crystals with a characteristic irritating odor, resembling that of chlorine, bleach, and hot plastic or ...
and
methanol
Methanol (also called methyl alcohol and wood spirit, amongst other names) is an organic chemical and the simplest aliphatic alcohol, with the formula C H3 O H (a methyl group linked to a hydroxyl group, often abbreviated as MeOH). It is a ...
via a
free radical reaction.
Safety
People can be exposed to 4-methoxyphenol in the workplace by breathing it in, skin absorption, swallowing it, skin contact, and eye contact. The
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set a
recommended exposure limit (REL) of 5 mg/m
3 over an 8-hour workday.
See also
*
Monobenzone (benzyloxyphenol)
*
Hydroquinone
*
Guaiacol
*
2-Hydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde
2-Hydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde is an organic compound and an isomer of vanillin.
Synthesis and reactions
The chemical is produced by the Reimer-Tiemann reaction on 4-methoxyphenol with a 79% yield.
It reacts with malononitrile to form 2-im ...
References
External links
*
{{Other dermatological preparations
Phenols
Phenol ethers