White or almost white, crystalline powder.
Antiperistaltic; antidiarrheal.
Controlled substance (opiate).
ChEBI: The hydrochloride salt of diphenoxylate.
A mixture of 23 parts of the ethyl ester of 4-phenylisonipecotic acid and 15
parts of 2,2-diphenyl-4-
omobutyronitrile in 19 parts of xylene is heated for
24 hours at 100-120°C and then cooled and filtered to remove the precipitate
of the hydro
omide of the ethyl ester of 4-phenylisonipecotic acid. The
filtrate is then extracted with dilute hydrochloric acid and the extract is
rendered alkaline by addition of concentrated aqueous potassium hydroxide
and extracted with ether. This ether extract is treated with gaseous hydrogen
chloride. The resulting precipitate is collected on a filter. The hydrochloride of
the ethyl ester of 2,2-diphenyl-4-(4'-carboxy-4'-phenyl-1'-
piperidino)butyronitrile thus obtained melts at about 220.5-222°C. See
meperidine hydrochloride for synthesis of 4-phenyl-isonipecotic acid ethyl
ester.
Veterinary Drugs and Treatments
Diphenoxylate is an opiate in combination with atropine in antidiarrheal
products used primarily in dogs; it also has antitussive
properties. Use in cats is controversial and many clinicians do not
recommend its use in this species.
