N H
H
H
H
H
.
.
.
.
..
Structure of pyrrole with p orbitals
4.6.5 Pharmaceutical importance of aromatic compounds: some
examples
There are numerous examples of aromatic compounds that are pharmaceutically important as drugs or pharmaceutical additives. Just a few examples
of pharmaceutically important aromatic compounds are cited here. Aspirin,
a well known non-narcotic analgesic and antipyretic drug, is a classic
example of a pharmaceutically important benzene derivative. Morphine, an
aromatic alkaloid, is a narcotic (habit-forming) analgesic that is used
extensively for the management of post-operative pain. Aromatic compound
valium is prescribed as a tranquillizer and ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory, and sulpha drugs, e.g. sulphamethoxazole, are used as antimicrobial
agents. Taxol, one of the best selling anticancer drugs of modern time, also
belongs to the class of aromatic compounds. Saquinavir and crixivan, two
anti-HIV drugs (protease inhibitors), also possess aromatic characters.
O
O
H
O
H
N CH 3
OCOCH 3
COOH
N
N
Cl
CH 3
O
NH 2
S N
N
O
H
O
O
CH 3
Aspirin
Acetyl salicylic acid
Morphine
Valium
Sulphamethoxazole
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
O
H
O
O
O
AcO
OH
O
H
O OAc
O
O
O
OH
N
O
H
Ibuprofen
Taxol
Isolated from Taxus brevifolia
4.6 AROMATIC COMPOUNDS AND THEIR DERIVATIVES
115