Ethidium Bromide

• CAT Number: R050842
• CAS Number: 1239-45-8
• Molecular Formula: C21H20N3.Br
• Molecular Weight: 394.32
• Purity: ≥95%
• Synonyms: 3,8-Diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium Bromide; 2,7-Diamino-10-ethyl-9-?phenylphenanthridinium Bromide; 2,7-Diamino-9-phenyl-10-ethylphenanthridinium Bromide; 2,7-Diamino-9-phenylphenanthridine Ethobromide; Dromilac; Homidium Bromide
• Target: DNA Stain
• Storage: Store at -20°C
• IUPAC Name: 5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridin-5-ium-3,8-diamine;bromide
• InChI: InChI=1S/C21H19N3.BrH/c1-2-24-20-13-16(23)9-11-18(20)17-10-8-15(22)12-19(17)21(24)14-6-4-3-5-7-14;/h3-13,23H,2,22H2,1H3;1H
• InChIKey: ZMMJGEGLRURXTF-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES: CC[N+]1=C2C=C(C=CC2=C3C=CC(=CC3=C1C4=CC=CC=C4)N)N.[Br-]

Ethidium bromide (Cat No.: R050842) is a planar, tricyclic aromatic compound with the molecular formula C₂₁H₂₀BrN₃, commonly used as a nucleic acid stain in molecular biology. It intercalates between DNA base pairs, fluorescing under ultraviolet light to visualize DNA in gel electrophoresis. Despite its effectiveness, ethidium bromide is considered a potential mutagen and must be handled with caution. Its strong binding affinity to DNA makes it useful in DNA quantification and molecular diagnostics, though safer alternatives are increasingly favored in modern laboratory practice.