Product Information
- 1-Phenylethylmercaptan
- 1-Phenylethylthiol
- Benzenemethanethiol, alpha-methyl-
- Benzenemethanethiol, α-methyl-
- Ethanethiol, 1-phenyl-
- NSC 66561
- α-Methyl-α-toluenethiol
- α-Methylbenzenemethanethiol
- α-Methylbenzyl mercaptan
- α-Methylbenzyl thiol
- See more synonyms
- α-Toluenethiol, α-methyl-
1-Phenylethyl mercaptan, also known as phenylethylmercaptan, is an antibiotic that belongs to the group of β-lactam antibiotics. It is used in combination with other antibiotics to treat infectious diseases. 1-Phenylethyl mercaptan has a hydroxyl group and a nonpolar solvent, which allows it to be soluble in organic solvents such as benzene, chloroform, or acetone. The reaction mechanism of 1-phenylethylmercaptan is similar to other β-lactam antibiotics: it reacts with the active site of the bacterial cell wall synthesis enzyme penicillinase by forming a covalent bond between the antibiotic and the enzyme. This prevents the formation of an antibiotic-enzyme complex that is required for cell wall biosynthesis, inhibiting protein synthesis and cell division.
