Fluorenol
Chemical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fluorenol, also known as hydrafinil,[3] is an alcohol derivative of fluorene. In the most significant isomer, fluoren-9-ol or 9-hydroxyfluorene, the hydroxy group is located on the bridging carbon between the two benzene rings. Hydroxyfluorene can be converted to fluorenone by oxidants. It is a white-cream colored solid at room temperature.
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name
9H-Fluoren-9-ol | |
| Other names
9-Hydroxyfluorene | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChEBI | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.015.345 |
| EC Number |
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PubChem CID |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| C13H10O | |
| Molar mass | 182.22 g/mol |
| Appearance | Off-white crystalline powder |
| Density | 1.151 g/mL |
| Melting point | 152 to 155 °C (306 to 311 °F; 425 to 428 K) |
| Practically insoluble[2] | |
| Hazards | |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Toxicity
Fluorenol is toxic to aquatic organisms including algae, bacteria, and crustaceans.[4] Fluorenol was patented as an insecticide in 1939,[5] and is an algaecide against the green algae genera Dunaliella.[6]
Toxicity and carcinogenicity in humans are unknown.[6]
Mechanism of action
Eugeroic
A study published by Cephalon describing research to develop a successor to the eugeroic modafinil reported that the corresponding fluorenol derivative was 39% more effective than modafinil at keeping mice awake over a 4-hour period.[11] However, after further investigation it was determined that the eugeroic activity of the fluorenol analog was likely due to an active metabolite, which they identify as fluorenol itself.[11] Fluorenol is a weak dopamine reuptake inhibitor with an IC50 of 9 μM, notably 59% weaker than modafinil (IC50 = 3.70 μM),[11] potentially making it even less liable for addiction.[12] It also showed no affinity for cytochrome P450 2C19, unlike modafinil.[11]
There is no evidence (binding assays, occupancy, predicted structure) to suggest that fluorenol acts on serotonin receptors, contrary to some popular claims.[medical citation needed]
Sale as research chemical
The unscheduled nature of fluorenol has caused it to fall into a legal grey area in most countries. Despite being associated with modafinil,[13] fluorenol is not a substituted derivative of it, making its scheduling unimplied by analogue acts.
Fluorenol is a relatively obscure compound in the research chemical market. According to an online survey with over 3000 respondents, only 2% of modafinil users have reported using fluorenol.[14]


