Reproterol is a short-acting
used in the treatment of
asthma
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, c ...
.
It was patented in 1965 and came into medical use in 1977.
Stereochemistry
Reproterol contains a stereocenter and is
chiral. There are thus two
enantiomers
In chemistry, an enantiomer ( /ɪˈnænti.əmər, ɛ-, -oʊ-/ ''ih-NAN-tee-ə-mər''; from Ancient Greek ἐνάντιος ''(enántios)'' 'opposite', and μέρος ''(méros)'' 'part') – also called optical isomer, antipode, or optical ant ...
, the (''R'')-form and the (''S'')-form. The commercial preparations contain the drug as a
racemate
In chemistry, a racemic mixture, or racemate (), is one that has equal amounts of left- and right-handed enantiomers of a chiral molecule or salt. Racemic mixtures are rare in nature, but many compounds are produced industrially as racemates. ...
, an equal mixture of the two enantiomers.
References
Antiasthmatic drugs
Beta-adrenergic agonists
Xanthines
Phenylethanolamines
Resorcinols
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