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Tetracaine HCl: Chemical Profile, CAS Number, Structure & Local Anesthetic Research
Tetracaine HCl is the hydrochloride salt form of tetracaine, an ester-type local anesthetic compound studied in pharmacology, toxicology, pharmaceutical analysis, and analytical chemistry. It is also known as tetracaine hydrochloride and appears in chemical databases, laboratory documentation, safety records, and local anesthetic research.
This chemical profile reviews tetracaine HCl’s CAS number, molecular formula, structural features, pharmacology, analytical identification methods, toxicology overview, and research relevance.
General Information
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | Tetracaine Hydrochloride |
| Common Name | Tetracaine HCl |
| Parent Compound | Tetracaine |
| Tetracaine HCl CAS Number | 136-47-0 |
| Tetracaine Free Base CAS Number | 94-24-6 |
| PubChem CID | 8695 |
| Molecular Formula | C15H25ClN2O2 |
| Molecular Weight | 300.82 g/mol |
| Parent Formula | C15H24N2O2 |
| Parent Molecular Weight | 264.36 g/mol |
| Chemical Class | Ester local anesthetic |
| Related Family | Local anesthetics |
Chemical Identity
Tetracaine HCl is a hydrochloride salt form of tetracaine. The parent compound, tetracaine, belongs to the ester local anesthetic family and contains a benzoate ester structure with a tertiary amino group.
For accurate chemical documentation, the hydrochloride salt and free base should be treated as related but distinct records. They have different CAS numbers, formulas, molecular weights, and documentation requirements.
Researchers should compare the chemical name, CAS number, salt form, molecular formula, molecular weight, Safety Data Sheet, Certificate of Analysis, and analytical method records before using tetracaine data in a scientific profile.
For background on chemical identifiers, see our guide to What Is a CAS Number?.
Chemical Structure Overview
Tetracaine contains structural features that place it in the ester local anesthetic class.
Important structural elements include:
- Benzoate ester group
- Butylamino substituent
- Tertiary amine
- Aromatic ring
- Dimethylaminoethyl side chain
- Hydrochloride salt association in tetracaine HCl
The ester linkage distinguishes tetracaine from amide local anesthetics such as lidocaine. This difference matters in chemical classification, stability discussions, analytical method development, and pharmacology comparisons.
Tetracaine HCl vs Tetracaine Free Base
Tetracaine HCl and tetracaine free base are closely related, but they are not identical chemical entries.
Tetracaine free base is commonly represented as:
C15H24N2O2
Tetracaine hydrochloride is commonly represented as:
C15H25ClN2O2
The hydrochloride salt form includes hydrochloride association, which changes the formula and molecular weight. This distinction matters when reviewing chemical databases, SDS records, COAs, reference standards, analytical methods, and laboratory inventory data.
Tetracaine vs Lidocaine
Tetracaine and lidocaine are both local anesthetic compounds, but they belong to different chemical classes.
| Compound | Chemical Class | Key Structural Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Tetracaine | Ester local anesthetic | Benzoate ester linkage |
| Lidocaine | Amide local anesthetic | Amide linkage |
| Tetracaine HCl | Salt form of tetracaine | Hydrochloride salt form |
| Lidocaine HCl | Salt form of lidocaine | Hydrochloride salt form |
This distinction is important because ester and amide local anesthetics can differ in structure, stability, metabolism, analytical behavior, and classification.
Discovery and Historical Context
Tetracaine is part of the older ester local anesthetic family. It has been studied in relation to local anesthetic chemistry, sodium channel activity, pharmaceutical formulation, ophthalmic anesthesia, spinal anesthesia, and surface anesthesia research.
In scientific writing, tetracaine is often discussed alongside other local anesthetics such as procaine, benzocaine, lidocaine, and prilocaine. These comparisons help researchers understand how structural differences influence local anesthetic classification and analytical behavior.
Pharmacology Overview
Tetracaine HCl is associated with local anesthetic activity. At a high level, tetracaine interacts with voltage-gated sodium ion channels in neuronal membranes. This activity can reduce sodium ion movement and affect impulse initiation and conduction.
This mechanism places tetracaine within the broader scientific study of local anesthetics and sodium channel pharmacology.
Relevant research areas include:
- Local anesthetic pharmacology
- Sodium channel research
- Nerve impulse conduction
- Ester anesthetic structure-activity relationships
- Pharmaceutical analysis
- Toxicology of local anesthetics
- Analytical method development
For an external chemical identity reference, see the PubChem tetracaine hydrochloride record.
Mechanism of Action
The mechanism of tetracaine is generally discussed through sodium channel blockade. Local anesthetic compounds interfere with sodium-channel-dependent electrical signaling in excitable membranes.
In simple scientific terms, tetracaine can reduce the ability of nerve membranes to conduct impulses by affecting voltage-gated sodium channels. This mechanism is relevant in pharmacology, toxicology, and local anesthetic research.
Laboratory and Research Applications
Tetracaine HCl may be relevant in legitimate laboratory and scientific contexts where researchers study chemical identity, local anesthetic pharmacology, analytical detection, and toxicology.
Research-related contexts include:
- Analytical method development
- HPLC method validation
- LC-MS identification studies
- GC-MS method development
- Pharmaceutical quality control
- Reference standard comparison
- Local anesthetic structure-activity research
- Forced degradation studies
- Stability-indicating method development
- Toxicology literature review
These applications should be discussed as scientific and analytical contexts, not as product-use or administration guidance.
Analytical Identification
Tetracaine HCl can be evaluated using multiple analytical chemistry techniques. The selected method depends on the sample type, matrix, research objective, and sensitivity requirements.
Common analytical approaches include:
- HPLC
- LC-MS
- GC-MS
- NMR spectroscopy
- FTIR spectroscopy
- UV-Visible spectroscopy
- Melting point comparison
- Reference standard comparison
HPLC may support assay, purity, related-substance analysis, or stability studies. LC-MS and GC-MS may support identity confirmation in complex matrices. NMR and FTIR can help confirm structural features.
Reliable identification should compare several data points, including CAS number, formula, molecular weight, salt form, retention behavior, spectral data, SDS information, and COA documentation.
Tetracaine HCl in Pharmaceutical Analysis
Tetracaine HCl is relevant in pharmaceutical analysis because it is associated with local anesthetic preparations and chemical quality documentation. Analytical work may focus on identity, assay, degradation behavior, related substances, impurity monitoring, or reference standard comparison.
Researchers may review:
- Active compound identity
- Hydrochloride salt confirmation
- Assay data
- Impurity profile
- Stability data
- Degradation products
- Certificate of Analysis
- Safety Data Sheet
- Analytical method validation
The salt form should remain clear in all analytical and quality records.
Toxicology Overview
Tetracaine has toxicological relevance because local anesthetic compounds act on sodium channels and can affect excitable tissues. Toxicological interpretation depends on exposure context, concentration, formulation, route, co-exposures, and the chemical form being reviewed.
A scientific toxicology overview may consider:
- Sodium channel activity
- Central nervous system effects
- Cardiovascular considerations
- Local tissue exposure context
- Formulation differences
- Salt form
- Exposure route
- Safety documentation
- Regulatory classification
Toxicology sections should be based on scientific literature, SDS data, and qualified safety documentation.
Safety and Documentation Considerations
Tetracaine HCl documentation should clearly distinguish between the hydrochloride salt and the parent free base. This is important because chemical databases, SDS documents, COAs, and analytical standards may use different names or forms.
Useful records to compare include:
- CAS number
- IUPAC name
- Molecular formula
- Molecular weight
- Synonyms
- Salt form
- SDS
- COA
- Analytical standard documentation
- Regulatory records
If a record says tetracaine but the material is tetracaine HCl, the salt form should be verified before using the data.
Regulatory Considerations
Tetracaine’s regulatory status depends on country, formulation, concentration, route, labeling, intended use, and professional context. It may appear in pharmaceutical, ophthalmic, laboratory, analytical, and research settings.
Researchers should verify applicable laws, supplier documentation, institutional requirements, SDS records, and regulatory database information before making compliance decisions.
Regulatory discussion should remain neutral and should not assume that a chemical database listing, product label, or synonym confirms legal status or approved use in every jurisdiction.
Information-Gain Section: Ester Local Anesthetic vs Amide Local Anesthetic
A useful way to understand tetracaine is to compare it with lidocaine.
Tetracaine is an ester local anesthetic, while lidocaine is an amide local anesthetic. This distinction is more than a naming detail. It reflects structural differences that can influence classification, stability, metabolism discussions, analytical method design, and chemical family grouping.
For chemical profiles, this means tetracaine should link naturally to ester anesthetics, sodium channel pharmacology, analytical chemistry, and toxicology pages. Lidocaine should link to amide anesthetics and related pharmaceutical analysis pages.
Common Misunderstandings About Tetracaine HCl
Tetracaine HCl is sometimes confused with tetracaine free base or grouped too broadly with all local anesthetics.
Common misunderstandings include:
- Treating tetracaine HCl and tetracaine free base as identical records
- Confusing ester local anesthetics with amide local anesthetics
- Using a synonym without checking the CAS number
- Assuming an SDS proves purity
- Ignoring COA batch documentation
- Assuming one regulatory status applies everywhere
- Treating local anesthetic pharmacology as product-use guidance
A clean chemical profile should separate identity, structure, pharmacology, analytical methods, toxicology, and regulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tetracaine HCl?
Tetracaine HCl is the hydrochloride salt form of tetracaine, an ester-type local anesthetic compound studied in pharmacology, toxicology, and analytical chemistry.
What is the CAS number for Tetracaine HCl?
The CAS number for tetracaine hydrochloride is 136-47-0.
What is the CAS number for tetracaine free base?
The CAS number for tetracaine free base is 94-24-6.
What is the molecular formula of Tetracaine HCl?
The molecular formula of tetracaine hydrochloride is C15H25ClN2O2.
What is the molecular formula of tetracaine free base?
The molecular formula of tetracaine free base is C15H24N2O2.
Is Tetracaine HCl the same as tetracaine?
Tetracaine HCl is the hydrochloride salt form of tetracaine. It is related to tetracaine free base but has a different formula, molecular weight, and CAS number.
Is tetracaine an ester or amide local anesthetic?
Tetracaine is an ester local anesthetic.
How is tetracaine different from lidocaine?
Tetracaine is an ester local anesthetic, while lidocaine is an amide local anesthetic.
What is tetracaine’s mechanism of action?
Tetracaine is associated with sodium channel blockade, which affects impulse initiation and conduction in excitable membranes.
What analytical methods may be used for tetracaine HCl?
Common methods include HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, NMR, FTIR, UV-Visible spectroscopy, and reference standard comparison.
Why does the salt form matter?
The salt form affects chemical records, molecular formula, molecular weight, documentation, analytical standards, and database identity.
What documents should researchers review?
Researchers should review the SDS, COA, CAS record, chemical database entry, supplier documentation, analytical method data, and regulatory records.
References
- PubChem Tetracaine Hydrochloride
- PubChem Tetracaine
- NIST Chemistry WebBook Tetracaine
- NCBI Bookshelf Tetracaine
- Scientific literature on sodium channels and local anesthetics
