1,2-Dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridone

CAS 30652-11-0

Deferiprone turns a small oxygen-donor arrangement into a way to remove excess iron. The compound, also named 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridone, is CAS 30652-11-0. Two neighboring oxygen sites bind iron(III); three molecules can form a neutral complex around one iron ion. Early clinical work published in 1987 reported increased urinary iron excretion after oral administration in three repeatedly transfused patients. The goal was a practical oral alternative to burdensome infusion-based chelation. Development required much more than binding: absorption, access to iron, elimination and safety all mattered. Deferiprone later became an approved medicine, with initial United States approval in 2011. Serious agranulocytosis risk requires blood-count monitoring. Its story connects coordination chemistry with clinical evidence and continued medical oversight in the treatment of transfusional iron overload.