Amino esters
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Amino esters are a class of local anesthetics. They are named for their ester bond and are unlike amide local anaesthetics.
Structure
[edit]Structurally, amino esters consist of three molecular components:
- a lipophilic part (ester)
- an intermediate aliphatic chain
- a hydrophilic part (amine)
The chemical linkage between the lipophilic part and the intermediate chain can be of the amide-type or the ester-type, and is the general basis for the current classification of local anesthetics.
Amino esters, in reference to anesthetic agents, are rapidly metabolized in the plasma by butyrylcholinesterase to para-aminobenzoic acid derivatives, then excreted in the urine. This suggests their very short half lives. Allergy is more likely to occur with ester-type agents, as opposed to amide-type.
Examples
[edit]Amino ester-type include:
- Cocaine
- Procaine (Novocain)
- Tetracaine (Pontocaine)
- Benzocaine
- Chloroprocaine
References
[edit]- University of Texas Med School, Pharmacology Syllabus.
- Katzung. 10th edition. Chapter 26.
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