Definition of ibuprofen

The word "ibuprofen" is a contraction of two chemical terms - isobutyl and propionic acid. The drug was first created by a group of scientists working at the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim in the 1960s. The process of naming this new drug involved several steps. First, the chemical structure of ibuprofen was determined. The drug is a derivative of propionic acid, which is commonly found in food items like cheese, eggs, and dairy products. Its chemical structure also features an isobutyl group, which is a substituent of butylene. The process of naming a chemical compound typically follows a set of rules established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). In this case, the prefix "i" at the beginning of the name denoted the reversal of the sequence of the -butyl and -propionic acid structures. The "bu" represented the butylene chemistry, while the "pro" reflected the propionic acid component. As the result, the word "ibuprofen" was coined. The compound was initially patented and sold under the brand name Brufen by Boehringer Ingelheim in the 1970s. After its successful approval for medical use in several countries, other pharmaceutical companies started marketing less expensive generic versions of ibuprofen under variations of the name, such as Advil, Motrin, and Nurofen. Overall, the name "ibuprofen" reflects its chemical composition and has become an integral part of our everyday vocabulary in regards to pain relief medication.