Naproxen is a naphthalenepropionic acid derivative that is widely sold as its sodium salt. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is used to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation in muscles and joints. Its preparation in racemic form was first reported in 1968 in a patent awarded to Syntex.
MOTW update:
May 22, 2023
Naproxen was the Molecule of the Week for May 18, 2009. Its sodium salt is the active ingredient in Aleve and other over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation. This month, Xiaohong Guan and collaborators at Tongji University and East China Normal University (both in Shanghai) reported an entirely different use for naproxen. They described a method for using the compound in turn-on chemiluminescent probes for quantifying concentrations of the sulfate radical SO4∙– in oxidation processes for wastewater treatment that use the radical anion.
Learn more about this molecule from CAS, the most authoritative and comprehensive source for chemical information.
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