Mequinol

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Mequinol, or 4-Methoxyphenol, is a phenol used in dermatology^[1] and organic chemistry.^[2]

Mequinol is a common active ingredient in topical drugs used for skin depigmentation. As a topical drug Mequinol is often mixed with tretinoin, a topical retinoid. A common formulation for this drug is an ethanolic solution of 2% Mequinol and 0.01% tretinoin by mass.^[1] Dermatologists commonly prescribe the drug to treat solar lentigines, liver spots, or age spots.

Lower dosages of mequinol have been used in conjunction with a Q-switched laser to depigment skin in patients with disseminated idiopathic vitiligo.^[3]

In organic chemistry 4-Methoxyphenol is used to inhibit the radical polymerization of monomers (e.g. acrylates or styrene monomers).^[2]

4-Methoxyphenol is produced from p-benzoquinone and methanol via a free radical reaction.^[4]^[5]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. “Full Prescribing Information” (PDF). US Food and Drug Admistration. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Hudnall, Phillip M. (2000). “Hydroquinone”. Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a13_499.
↑ Komen, L.; Zwertbroek, L.; Burger, S.J.; van der Veen, J.P.W.; de Rie, M.A.; Wolkerstorfer, A. (2013). “Q-switched laser depigmentation in vitiligo, most effective in active disease”. British Journal of Dermatology. 169 (6): 1246–1251. doi:10.1111/bjd.12571.
↑ Cristian, Gambarotti; Lucio, Melone; Carlo, Punta; Suresh Udhavrao, Shisodia (2013). “Selective Monoetherification of 1,4-Hydroquinone Promoted by NaNO₂“. Current Organic Chemistry. 17 (10): 1108–1113.
↑ Correale, Mariano; Panseri, Pietro; Romano, Ugo; Minisci, Francesco. “Process for the preparation of mono-ethers of hydroquinones US4933504A”. Google Patents. Enichem Synthesis S.P.A. Retrieved 2 January 2015.