Record Information
Version1.0
Creation Date2014-09-11 02:04:16 UTC
Update Date2026-03-31 19:09:44 UTC
Accession NumberCHEM003631
Identification
Common NameAdapalene
ClassSmall Molecule
DescriptionAdapalene is a topical retinoid primarily used in the treatment of acne and is also used (off-label) to treat keratosis pilaris as well as other skin conditions. It is currently marketed by Galderma under the trade names Differin in some countries, and Adaferin in India.
Contaminant Sources
  • Cosmetic Chemicals
  • HMDB Contaminants - Urine
  • STOFF IDENT Compounds
  • T3DB toxins
  • ToxCast & Tox21 Chemicals
Contaminant Type
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Non-Steroidal
  • Dermatologic Agent
  • Drug
  • Ester
  • Ether
  • Metabolite
  • Organic Compound
  • Synthetic Compound
Chemical Structure
Thumb
Synonyms
ValueSource
6-(3-(1-Adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-naphthoic acidChEBI
AdaferinChEBI
AdapalenoChEBI
AdapalenumChEBI
DifferineChEBI
DifferinKegg
6-(3-(1-Adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-naphthoateGenerator
271, CDHMDB
Chemical FormulaC28H28O3
Average Molecular Mass412.520 g/mol
Monoisotopic Mass412.204 g/mol
CAS Registry Number106685-40-9
IUPAC Name6-[3-(adamantan-1-yl)-4-methoxyphenyl]naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid
Traditional Namedifferin
SMILESCOC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C1=CC2=C(C=C1)C=C(C=C2)C(O)=O)C12CC3CC(CC(C3)C1)C2
InChI IdentifierInChI=1S/C28H28O3/c1-31-26-7-6-23(21-2-3-22-12-24(27(29)30)5-4-20(22)11-21)13-25(26)28-14-17-8-18(15-28)10-19(9-17)16-28/h2-7,11-13,17-19H,8-10,14-16H2,1H3,(H,29,30)
InChI KeyLZCDAPDGXCYOEH-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Chemical Taxonomy
Description belongs to the class of organic compounds known as retinoids. These are oxygenated derivatives of 3,7-dimethyl-1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-enyl)nona-1,3,5,7-tetraene and derivatives thereof.
KingdomOrganic compounds
Super ClassLipids and lipid-like molecules
ClassPrenol lipids
Sub ClassRetinoids
Direct ParentRetinoids
Alternative Parents
Substituents
  • Adapalene
  • Phenylnaphthalene
  • 2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid
  • 2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid or derivatives
  • Naphthalene
  • Phenoxy compound
  • Anisole
  • Methoxybenzene
  • Phenol ether
  • Alkyl aryl ether
  • Monocyclic benzene moiety
  • Benzenoid
  • Monocarboxylic acid or derivatives
  • Ether
  • Carboxylic acid
  • Carboxylic acid derivative
  • Hydrocarbon derivative
  • Organic oxygen compound
  • Organic oxide
  • Organooxygen compound
  • Aromatic homopolycyclic compound
Molecular FrameworkAromatic homopolycyclic compounds
External Descriptors
Biological Properties
StatusDetected and Not Quantified
OriginExogenous
Cellular Locations
  • Cytoplasm
  • Extracellular
  • Membrane
Biofluid LocationsNot Available
Tissue LocationsNot Available
PathwaysNot Available
ApplicationsNot Available
Biological RolesNot Available
Chemical RolesNot Available
Physical Properties
StateSolid
AppearanceWhite powder.
Experimental Properties
PropertyValue
Melting PointNot Available
Boiling PointNot Available
Solubility4.01e-06 g/L
Predicted Properties
PropertyValueSource
Water Solubility4.0e-06 g/LALOGPS
logP6.06ALOGPS
logP6.46ChemAxon
logS-8ALOGPS
pKa (Strongest Acidic)3.99ChemAxon
pKa (Strongest Basic)-4.8ChemAxon
Physiological Charge-1ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count3ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count1ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area46.53 ŲChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count4ChemAxon
Refractivity122.07 m³·mol⁻¹ChemAxon
Polarizability47.65 ųChemAxon
Number of Rings6ChemAxon
Bioavailability1ChemAxon
Rule of FiveNoChemAxon
Ghose FilterNoChemAxon
Veber's RuleNoChemAxon
MDDR-like RuleNoChemAxon
Spectra
Spectra
Spectrum TypeDescriptionSplash KeyView
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positivesplash10-0002-0009000000-2169879160d27fbd36e2Spectrum
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (1 TMS) - 70eV, Positivesplash10-00xs-8006900000-dedd288878501d101021Spectrum
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, PositiveNot AvailableSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positivesplash10-03dj-0009500000-35bff807860c9c78b28cSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positivesplash10-00kb-0119100000-2a0a0656abf4155b2552Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positivesplash10-0uei-0309000000-7b9438a46b2f18cdc7dfSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negativesplash10-03di-0005900000-f70dd1ca3170a3828c5bSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negativesplash10-0i00-0019300000-00ba903e8fb2abb8a386Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negativesplash10-0ue9-1149000000-d93742cdc7563deb95faSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negativesplash10-014i-0009400000-dc3263730bd61e4428caSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negativesplash10-014i-0009000000-981559d240019f5c2b78Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negativesplash10-114r-0229100000-28732127a9e20d3c667aSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positivesplash10-03di-0007900000-9ec13495747ce0352fb2Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positivesplash10-03dj-0409700000-93449856a5a1558c8801Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positivesplash10-000i-0693100000-58ea252b7486c8e5f288Spectrum
Toxicity Profile
Route of ExposureAbsorption of adapalene through human skin is low. Only trace amounts (<0.25 ng/mL) of parent substance have been found in the plasma of acne patients following chronic topical application of adapalene in controlled clinical trials
Mechanism of ToxicityMechanistically, adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors (gamma and beta) and retinoid X receptors but does not bind to the cytosolic receptor protein. Although the exact mode of action of adapalene is unknown, it is suggested that topical adapalene may normalize the differentiation of follicular epithelial cells resulting in decreased microcomedone formation.
MetabolismMetabolized mainly by O-demethylation, hydroxylation and conjugation, and excretion is primarily by the biliary route. Route of Elimination: Excretion appears to be primarily by the biliary route.
Toxicity ValuesThe acute oral toxicity of adapalene in mice and rats is greater than 10 mL/kg
Lethal DoseNot Available
Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Uses/SourcesFor the topical treatment of comedo, papular and pustular acne (acne vulgaris) of the face, chest or back.
Minimum Risk LevelNot Available
Health EffectsChronic ingestion of the drug may lead to the same side effects as those associated with excessive oral intake of Vitamin A.
SymptomsNot Available
TreatmentNot Available
Concentrations
Not Available
DrugBank IDDB00210
HMDB IDHMDB0014355
FooDB IDNot Available
Phenol Explorer IDNot Available
KNApSAcK IDNot Available
BiGG IDNot Available
BioCyc IDNot Available
METLIN IDNot Available
PDB IDNot Available
Wikipedia LinkAdapalene
Chemspider ID54244
ChEBI ID31174
PubChem Compound ID60164
Kegg Compound IDNot Available
YMDB IDNot Available
ECMDB IDNot Available
References
Synthesis Reference

Graziano Castaldi, Pietro Allegrini, Gabriele Razzetti, Mauro Ercoli, “Process for the preparation of adapalene.” U.S. Patent US20060229465, issued October 12, 2006.

MSDSLink
General References
1. Rolewski SL: Clinical review: topical retinoids. Dermatol Nurs. 2003 Oct;15(5):447-50, 459-65.
2. Simons K, Toomre D: Lipid rafts and signal transduction. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2000 Oct;1(1):31-9.
3. Watson AD: Thematic review series: systems biology approaches to metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. Lipidomics: a global approach to lipid analysis in biological systems. J Lipid Res. 2006 Oct;47(10):2101-11. Epub 2006 Aug 10.
4. Sethi JK, Vidal-Puig AJ: Thematic review series: adipocyte biology. Adipose tissue function and plasticity orchestrate nutritional adaptation. J Lipid Res. 2007 Jun;48(6):1253-62. Epub 2007 Mar 20.
5. Lingwood D, Simons K: Lipid rafts as a membrane-organizing principle. Science. 2010 Jan 1;327(5961):46-50. doi: 10.1126/science.1174621.
6. The lipid handbook with CD-ROM
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=11594670
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=12833014
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=25016424
10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=26398439
11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=26483036