Pharma & Specialty Chemical Standards

Ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, is chemically 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-4-oxo-7-(piperazin-1-yl)-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (C17H18FN3O3; molecular weight: 331.34 g/mol). Its structure features a quinolone core with a cyclopropyl group at position 1, a fluorine at position 6, and a piperazine ring at position 7. It exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Ciprofloxacin is a weak base with good aqueous solubility and lipophilicity, enabling tissue penetration. It inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, disrupting DNA replication and transcription, leading to cell death.