Pharma & Specialty Chemical Standards

Clotrimazole, IUPAC name 2-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)-1-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethanol, is an imidazole antifungal agent with molecular formula C12H11Cl2N3O and molecular weight 284.14 g/mol. It features a dichlorophenyl group linked to an imidazole ring via an ethyl hydroxyl chain. Therapeutically, it targets dermatophytosis and candidiasis. Physicochemically, it is a white, crystalline solid with low water solubility and moderate lipophilicity. Its mechanism involves inhibiting lanosterol 14α-demethylase, disrupting ergosterol synthesis in fungal cell membranes, thereby inducing membrane permeability and cell death. Structurally, the imidazole moiety binds to cytochrome P450 enzymes, while the lipophilic tail enhances membrane interaction.