FLUORINATED MEDICINALS

Recently, advances in organic fluorine chemistry have been successfully utilized in the field of medicinal chemistry. Several fluorinated agents of different pharmacological classes have been prepared and proven more effective, less toxic and with more prolonged action than their hydrogen isosteres. This is due to the similarity in atomic size of hydrogen and fluorine atoms and the dissimilarity in the physicochemical properties e.g., electronegative, inductive effect, lipid solubility and bond strength. A full account of some clinically used fluorinated medicinal agents are discussed. © 1991, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.