Phenoxyethanol is the organic compound with the formula C6H5OC2H4OH. It is a colorless oily liquid. It can be classified as a glycol ether and a phenol ether. It is a common preservative in vaccine formulations.[4]
Phenoxyethanol is produced by the hydroxyethylation of phenol (Williamson synthesis), for example, in the presence of alkali-metal hydroxides or alkali-metal borohydrides. Phenoxyethanol has a long history of use, with its discovery credited to the German chemist Otto Schott in the early 20th century. Since then, it has been extensively studied and applied in various industries.[1]
Phenoxyethanol is a vaccine preservative and potential allergen, which may result in a nodular reaction at the site of injection. Possible symptoms include rashes, eczema, and possible death.[14] It reversibly inhibits NMDAR-mediated ion currents.[15]
^Meyer, Brian K.; Ni, Alex; Hu, Binghua; Shi, Li (2007). "Antimicrobial preservative use in parenteral products: Past and present". Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 96 (12): 3155–3167. doi:10.1002/jps.20976. PMID17722087.
^Wineski LE, English AW (1989). "Phenoxyethanol as a nontoxic preservative in the dissection laboratory". Acta Anat (Basel). 136 (2): 155–8. doi:10.1159/000146816. PMID2816264.
^Tokunaga H, Takeuchi O, Ko R, Uchino T, Ando M (2003). "市販化粧水中のフェノキシエタノールおよびパラベン類の分析法に関する研究" [Studies for analyzing phenoxyethanol and parabens in commercial lotions] (PDF). Kokuritsu Iyakuhin Shokuhin Eisei Kenkyūjo Hōkoku (in Japanese) (121): 25–9. PMID14740401.
^M. H. Beck; S. M. Wilkinson (2010), "Contact Dermatitis: Allergic", in Tony Burns; Stephen Breathnach; Neil Cox; Christopher Griffiths (eds.), Rook's Textbook of Dermatology, vol. 2 (8th ed.), Wiley-Blackwell, p. 26.46, ISBN978-1-4051-6169-5