Final answer:
Procaine is an amide, and it is a key component of Novocain, an injectable local anesthetic used in dental work and minor surgery. The structure of procaine can be modified to alter its anesthetic potency and toxicity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Procaine is a local anesthetic which is chemically classified as an amide. It is an important component of Novocain, which is used as an injectable local anesthetic in dental work and minor surgery. Procaine can be prepared by a reaction in the presence of H2SO4.
The ester link in procaine is important because it is readily hydrolyzed during metabolic degradation and inactivation in the body. This hydrolysis helps in the elimination of the compound from the body.
Changes in the different parts of the procaine molecule can alter its anesthetic potency and toxicity. Increasing the length of the alcohol group, for example, leads to a greater anesthetic potency but also an increase in toxicity.