methylcobalamin (mecobalamin, mecbl, or meb12) is a cobalamin, a form of vitamin b12. it differs from cyanocobalamin in that the cyanide is replaced by a methyl group.[1] methylcobalamin features an octahedral cobalt(iii) centre. methylcobalamin can be obtained as bright red crystals.[2] from the perspective of coordination chemistry, methylcobalamin is notable as a rare example of a compound that contains metal-alkyl bonds. nickel-methyl intermediates have been proposed for the final step of methanogenesis.
methylcobalamin is equivalent physiologically to vitamin b12, and can be used to prevent or treat pathology arising from a lack of vitamin b12 (vitamin b12 deficiency), such as pernicious anemia.
methylcobalamin is also used in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy,diabetic neuropathy, and as a preliminary treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
systematic (iupac) name | |
---|---|
carbanide; cobalt(3+); | |
clinical data | |
ahfs/drugs.com | international drug names |
pregnancy cat. | |
legal status | otc (us) |
routes | oral,sublingual,injection. |
identifiers | |
cas number | 13422-55-4 |
atc code | b03ba05 |
pubchem | cid 6436232 |
unii | br1sn1js2w |
chembl | chembl1697757 |
chemical data | |
formula | c63h91con13o14p |
mol. mass | 1344.40 g/mol |