Mefloquine

Abstract

Mefloquine is available as a hydrochloride salt of the structure depicted in Figure 178.1 (Roche, 2003a). Its official chemical name is (R*, S*)-(±)-α-2-piperidnyl-2,8-bis (trifluromethyl)- 4-quinolinemethanol hydrochloride (Roche, 2003a). Mefloquine is a white crystalline solid with a molecular weight of 418 (Roche, 2003a). The compound has two chiral centers, and there are four isomeric forms. The commercially available formulation is a racemate of the 11R,2‘S and 11S,2‘R enantiomers