SYNTHETIC DERIVATIVES
Procaine (novocaine) hydrochloride
Chemical name: 2-Diethylaminoethyl 4-aminobenzoate hydrochloride
Molecular formula: C₁₃H₂₀N₂O₂,HCl

The German chemist Alfred Einhorn developed procaine in 1904. It was developed as an alternative to the toxic and addictive cocaine.¹⁰ Unlike cocaine, procaine did not produce a stimulant effect.¹¹ It became the local anaesthetic of choice soon after it was developed.¹⁰ Procaine hydrochloride was primarily administered via injection as it was ineffective when applied externally. Another problem associated with its use was that its onset of action was slow and it was active for a short period of time.⁸

* Image from http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/chemidheavy.jsp [07/07/05].

© William V. 2005. All rights reserved.