Chemicals and Drugs

Pentachlorophenol

An insecticide and herbicide that has also been used as a wood preservative. Pentachlorphenol is a widespread environmental pollutant. Both chronic and acute pentachlorophenol poisoning are medical concerns. The range of its biological actions is still being actively explored, but it is clearly a potent enzyme inhibitor and has been used as such as an experimental tool.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

An insecticide and herbicide that has also been used as a wood preservative. Pentachlorphenol is a widespread environmental pollutant. Both chronic and acute pentachlorophenol poisoning are medical concerns. The range of its biological actions is still being actively explored, but it is clearly a potent enzyme inhibitor and has been used as such as an experimental tool.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C6HCl5O
Molecular Weight
266.3 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
87-86-5
IUPAC Name
2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorophenol
InChIKey
IZUPBVBPLAPZRR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES
C1(=C(C(=C(C(=C1Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)O
MeSH Unique ID
D010416
Source
PubChem CID 992

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

2 entry terms
  • Sodium Pentachlorophenate
  • Pentachlorophenate, Sodium

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

25 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

91(71); was see under CHLOROPHENOLS 1977-90; was see under PHENOLS 1971-76

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Herbicides (1966-1970)
  • Phenols (1966-1970)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. D02w.455w.426w.559w.389.657w.190w.633w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Pentachlorophenol. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D010416. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D010416
  2. Pentachlorophenol. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentachlorophenol
  3. Pentachlorophenol. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q423922
  4. Pentachlorophenol. In: PubChem Compound. CID 992. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/992