Chloralimide is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C4H4ClNO2. Its spelling is based on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription of the word. The first two letters "ch" represent the voiceless palato-alveolar affricate /tʃ/. The following "l" is pronounced as the alveolar lateral approximant /l/. The "o" is pronounced as /ɔ/, which is an open-mid back rounded vowel. The next set of letters "r" and "a" sound like /ɹ/ and /eɪ/ respectively. The final letters, "l", "i", "m", "i", and "d", are pronounced as /l/, /ɪ/, /m/, /aɪ/, and /d/ respectively.
Chloralimide is a chemical compound that is primarily used as a tranquilizer or sedative in medical and veterinary practice. It belongs to the class of compounds known as hypnotics, which are substances that induce sleep or produce a calming effect on the central nervous system.
Chloralimide is derived from chloral, a colorless and volatile liquid that has sedative properties. With the addition of an imide group, chloralimide is formed, resulting in a white crystalline powder that is sparingly soluble in water.
When administered, chloralimide acts on certain receptors in the brain that are involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness. By binding to these receptors, the compound enhances the inhibitory activity of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which reduces neuronal activity and promotes sedation.
The sedative effects of chloralimide make it valuable in the management of conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, and agitation. Additionally, it may be used to sedate animals for certain procedures or alleviate behavioral issues. However, due to its potential for abuse and dependence, chloralimide is regulated and its use is closely monitored.
It is important to note that chloralimide should only be used under medical supervision, as improper or excessive use can lead to adverse effects such as drowsiness, decreased alertness, impaired coordination, and respiratory depression.
Made by heating chloralamide or by the action of ammonium acetate on chloral hydrate; occurs in colorless, tasteless, and odorless crystals; hypnotic and analgesic in doses of gr. 15-45 (1.0-3.0).
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "chloralimide" is composed of two parts: "chloral" and "imide".
The term "chloral" originated from the chemical compound "chloral hydrate", which was first synthesized by the French chemist Justus von Liebig in 1832. "Chloral" refers to the chemical element chlorine (from Greek "khloros") combined with the suffix "-al", indicating a compound. Chloral hydrate was widely used as a sedative and hypnotic, especially in the 19th century.
The second component, "imide", comes from the Latin word "imido", which means "to split in half". In chemistry, the term "imide" refers to a compound derived from ammonia (NH3) where a hydrogen atom is replaced by a metal or organic radical. This name was given because "imides" can be obtained by splitting ammonia in half.