Only take under medical supervision.

Bromhexine Hydrochloride is a chemical compound used as an active ingredient in cough medicines. It is known for its effectiveness in facilitating the expulsion of mucus from the respiratory tract.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• Brom indicates the presence of bromine in the chemical structure.
• hexine is derived from "hexane", suggesting a specific chemical structure commonly associated with organic compounds.
• Hydrochloride indicates that the compound is formed by combining with hydrochloric acid, usually to increase the solubility or stability of the medication.

Chemical Industrial Synthesis Process

• Preparation of reagents. The key chemical reagents for the synthesis of Bromhexine include 2-amino-3,5-dibromobenzaldehyde and the cyclic amino compound needed to form the base structure of Bromhexine.
• Synthesis. The 2-amino-3,5-dibromobenzaldehyde is reacted with the cyclic amino compound in a condensation reaction to form the base compound of Bromhexine.
• Hydrogenation and chlorination. The base compound is then hydrogenated to reduce double bonds, followed by a chlorination reaction to introduce the hydrochloride group, forming Bromhexine hydrochloride.
• Purification. The crude Bromhexine hydrochloride is purified through crystallization or chromatography techniques to remove impurities and achieve high purity.
• Quality control. The purified product undergoes rigorous chemical and microbiological testing to ensure it is safe, effective, and meets pharmaceutical standards.

What it is used for and where

Medical

Bromhexine Hydrochloride is primarily used for the treatment of respiratory disorders involving excessive mucus production. It works by breaking down the chemical bonds in mucus, making it less viscous and easier to expel (1). This helps to improve breathing and facilitates productive coughing. It is commonly found in cough syrups and tablets for the treatment of conditions such as bronchitis and other chronic respiratory diseases.

The use of Bromexine Hydrochloride is suggested as a TMPRSS2 protease blocker that precludes SARS-CoV-2 penetration into cells and at a reduced rate of symptomatic COVID-19 (2).

Molecular Formula    C₁₄H₂₁Br₂ClN₂

Molecular Weight   412.59 g/mol

CAS  611-75-6

UNII    YC2ZOM3Z8V

EC Number  210-280-8

DTXSID0045886

Synonyms:

Bromhexine HCl

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Martin GP, Loveday BE, Marriott C. The effect of bromhexine hydrochloride on the viscoelastic properties of mucus from the mini-pig. Eur Respir J. 1990 Apr;3(4):392-6. 

Abstract. Mucus was collected daily from open-ended pouches established surgically in three mini-pigs. After a five day control period bromhexine hydrochloride (BHCl) was administered to each pig at dose levels of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg.kg-1 twice daily for five days. Each study period was followed by a five day washout period, when mucus was collected but no drug given. The viscoelastic properties of each mucus sample were determined using creep compliance analysis. BHCl was shown to reduce the residual shear viscosity (p less than 0.05) and increase the instantaneous shear compliance at all dose levels (p less than 0.005), despite the large inherent intra- and inter-animal variation in the rheological properties of the daily samples. No change was found in the wet weight of the mucus samples throughout any of the study periods. This experimental model would appear to provide a valuable in vivo method of assessing the mucoregulatory potential of administered compounds.

(2) Mikhaylov EN, Lyubimtseva TA, Vakhrushev AD, Stepanov D, Lebedev DS, Vasilieva EY, Konradi AO, Shlyakhto EV. Bromhexine Hydrochloride Prophylaxis of COVID-19 for Medical Personnel: A Randomized Open-Label Study. Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis. 2022 Jan 29;2022:4693121. doi: 10.1155/2022/4693121. 

Li T, Sun L, Zhang W, Zheng C, Jiang C, Chen M, Chen D, Dai Z, Bao S, Shen X. Bromhexine Hydrochloride Tablets for the Treatment of Moderate COVID-19: An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Clin Transl Sci. 2020 Nov;13(6):1096-1102. doi: 10.1111/cts.12881.