Chloramphenicol CAS：56-75-7

Chloramphenicol, alternatively known as levomycin, is a broad-spectrum antibiotic sourced from the bacterium Streptomyces chlorinus. Its primary mechanism of action lies in suppressing bacterial growth and reproduction. Among its isomeric forms, the naturally occurring L-isomer is biologically active, whereas synthetic chloramphenicol generally presents as white to pale yellow needle-shaped or flaky crystals. This compound is odorless yet possesses a distinct bitter taste; it shows poor solubility in water, ether, and chloroform, but dissolves easily in methanol, ethanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate. Notably, it is insoluble in benzene and petroleum ether.

Chloramphenicol maintains stability in neutral or weakly acidic aqueous environments but tends to lose its antibacterial effectiveness under alkaline conditions. Synthetic chloramphenicol is manufactured as a racemic mixture, comprising both the bioactive L-isomer and the inactive D-isomer. Due to the lack of antibacterial activity in the D-form, the synthetic version exhibits only 50% of the efficacy of naturally derived chloramphenicol.