Butamben is an amino acid ester resulting from the formal condensation of the carboxy group of 4-aminobenzoic acid with the hydroxy group of butan-1-ol. Its local anaesthetic properties have been used for surface anaesthesia of the skin and mucous membranes, and for relief of pain and itching associated with some anorectal disorders. It has a role as a local anaesthetic. It is a benzoate ester, an amino-acid ester, a substituted aniline and a primary amino compound. It is functionally related to a butan-1-ol and a 4-aminobenzoic acid. It is a conjugate base of a butamben(1+).
