Octenidine dihydrochloride
Encyclopedia
Octenidine dihydrochloride is a cationic surfactant
and bis-(dihydropyridinyl)-decane derivative, used in concentrations of 0.1–2.0%. It is similar in its action to the quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), but is of somewhat broader spectrum of activity. Octenidine is currently increasingly used in continental Europe as a substitute for quats or chlorhexidine (with respect to its slow action and concerns about the carcinogenic impurity 4-chloroaniline
) in water- or alcohol-based skin, mucosa and wound antiseptics. In aqueous formulations, it is often potentiated with addition of 2-phenoxyethanol.
Surfactant
Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, the interfacial tension between two liquids, or that between a liquid and a solid...
and bis-(dihydropyridinyl)-decane derivative, used in concentrations of 0.1–2.0%. It is similar in its action to the quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), but is of somewhat broader spectrum of activity. Octenidine is currently increasingly used in continental Europe as a substitute for quats or chlorhexidine (with respect to its slow action and concerns about the carcinogenic impurity 4-chloroaniline
4-Chloroaniline
4-Chloroaniline is a organochlorine compound with the formula ClC6H4NH2. This pale yellow solid is one of several known chloroanilines.-Preparation:4-Chloroaniline is not prepared from aniline, which tends to overchlorinate...
) in water- or alcohol-based skin, mucosa and wound antiseptics. In aqueous formulations, it is often potentiated with addition of 2-phenoxyethanol.