Evaluation of Fistcher Esterification Method: Synthesis and Modification of Benzocaine; A Local Anaestatic

Abstract

Local anesthetics, or "painkillers," are a well-studied class of compounds. Chemists have shown their ability to study the essential features of a naturally-occurring drug and to improve on them by substituting totally new, synthetic surrogates. Often such substitutes are superior in desired medical effects and also in lack of unwanted side effects or hazards. This article highlight the synthesis and acetylation as well as characterization of benzocaine; a local anesthetic, using (Fischer esterification method); the resulting products were evaluated using Infrared spectroscopy, Melting point and thin layer chromatography; the %yield of the products(78% Benzocaine and 96% N-acetylbenzocaine) were determined to be highly acceptable and the analytical data from melting point(89-91 for benzocaine and 103 – 105 for N- acetylbenzocaine), Faurier transform infared spectroscopy and thin layer chromatography all confirmed the presence of the products thus ascertaining fischer esterification as an efficient method for synthesis of benzocaine and its acetylation.