Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 17, 2026

Fenamic acid

Fenamic acid is an organic compound, which, especially in its ester form, is called fenamate. serves as a parent structure for several nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including mefenamic acid, tolfenamic acid, flufenamic acid, and meclofenamic acid. These drugs are commonly referred to as "anthranilic acid derivatives" or "fenamates" because fenamic acid is a derivative of anthranilic acid.

Last revised
Jul 17, 2026
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Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Fenamic acid
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Ball-and-stick model of fenamic acid
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Names
Preferred IUPAC name
2-Anilinobenzoic acid
Other names
N-phenylanthranilic acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.001.879
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C13H11NO2/c15-13(16)11-8-4-5-9-12(11)14-10-6-2-1-3-7-10/h1-9,14H,(H,15,16) X markN
    Key: ZWJINEZUASEZBH-UHFFFAOYSA-N X markN
  • InChI=1/C13H11NO2/c15-13(16)11-8-4-5-9-12(11)14-10-6-2-1-3-7-10/h1-9,14H,(H,15,16)
    Key: ZWJINEZUASEZBH-UHFFFAOYAQ
  • C1=CC=C(C=C1)NC2=CC=CC=C2C(=O)O
Properties
C13H11NO2
Molar mass 213.23 g/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Fenamic acid is an organic compound, which, especially in its ester form, is called fenamate.1: 458  serves as a parent structure for several nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including mefenamic acid, tolfenamic acid, flufenamic acid, and meclofenamic acid. These drugs are commonly referred to as "anthranilic acid derivatives" or "fenamates" because fenamic acid is a derivative of anthranilic acid.2: 235 3: 17 2

Fenamic acid can be synthesized from 2-chlorobenzoic acid and can be converted into acridone.4

References

References

  1. Gupta, PK. Drug NomenclatureUnited States Adopted Names. Ch 27 in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, Vol 1. Eds. David B. Troy, Paul Beringer. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006 ISBN 9780781746731
  2. Sriram D, Yogeeswari P. Medicinal Chemistry, 2nd Edition. Pearson Education India, 2010. ISBN 9788131731444
  3. Auburn University course material. Jack DeRuiter, Principles of Drug Action 2, Fall 2002 1: Non-Steroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS)
  4. C. F. H. Allen, G. H. W. McKee (1939). "Acridone". Organic Syntheses. 2: 6. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.019.0006.