Furoxan Explained

Furoxan (1,2,5-oxadiazole 2-oxide) is a heterocycle of the isoxazole family and an amine oxide derivative of furazan. It is a nitric oxide donor.[1] As such, furoxan and its derivatives, such as ipramidil, are being actively studied as potential new drugs and insensitive high density explosives (4,4’-dinitro-3,3’-diazenofuroxan).

Furoxanes can be formed by dimerization of nitrile oxides.

Notes and References

  1. Use of the furoxan (1,2,5-oxadiazole 2-oxide) system in the design of new NO-donor antioxidant hybrids . Clara Cena . Massimo Bertinaria . Donatella Boschi . Marta Giorgis . Alberto Gasco . . HL-1787GR . 301–309 . 2006 .