Phenylacetate is the ester of a phenol and acetic acid. It is a metabolite of anticancer drug phenylbutyrate (PB), natural neurotransmitter phenylethylamine. Naturally, it is an odorant found in strawberries, passion fruit, and black tea. Phenylacetate level in urine was used as a marker for the diagnosis of some forms of unipolar major depressive disorders. Phenylacetate is used as a tool substrate to study esterase activity in the blood of patients in clinical studies of the effect of nutritional supplements on paraoxonase-1 levels.

Sodium phenylbutyrate is a salt of an aromatic fatty acid. The compound is used to treat urea cycle disorders, because its metabolites offer an alternative pathway to the urea cycle to allow excretion of excess nitrogen. Sodium phenylbutyrate is also a histone deacetylase inhibitor and chemical chaperone, leading respectively to research into its use as an anti-cancer agent and in protein misfolding diseases such as cystic fibrosis. It is used as adjunctive therapy for the management of chronic urea cycle disorders due to deficiencies in carbamylphosphate (CPS), ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), or argininosuccinic acid synthetase. It is indicated in all neonatal- onset efficiency presenting within the first 28 days of life. Also indicated in patients with late-onset, presenting after the first month of life with a history of hyperammonemic encephalopathy. Sodium phenylbutyrate is a pro-drug and is rapidly metabolized to phenylacetate. Phenylacetate is a metabolically active compound that conjugates with glutamine via acetylation to form phenylacetylglutamine. The kidneys then excrete Phenylacetylglutamine. PBA (phenylbutyric acid) is absorbed from the intestine and converted by way of β-oxidation to the active moiety, phenylacetic acid (PAA). PAA is conjugated with glutamine in the liver and kidney by way of N-acyl coenzyme A-l-glutamine N-acyltransferase to form phenylacetylglutamine (PAGN). Like urea, PAGN incorporates two waste nitrogens and is excreted in the urine. On a molar basis, it is comparable to urea (each containing two moles of nitrogen). Therefore, phenylacetylglutamine provides an alternate vehicle for waste nitrogen excretion.

Phenylacetic acid (abr. PAA and synonyms are: α-toluic acid, benzeneacetic acid, alpha tolylic acid, 2-phenylacetic acid, β-phenylacetic acid) is an organic compound containing a phenyl functional group and acarboxylic acid functional group. Because it is used in the illicit production of phenylacetone (used in the manufacture of substituted amphetamines), it is subject to controls in countries including the United States and China Phenylacetic acid is used in some perfumes, possessing a honey-like odor in low concentrations, and is also used in penicillin G production. It is also employed to treat type II hyperammonemia to help reduce the amounts of ammonia in a patient's bloodstream by forming phenylacetyl-CoA, which then reacts with nitrogen-rich glutamine to form phenylacetylglutamine. This compound is then secreted by the patient's body. In Phase 2 of clinical research it investigated in the treatment of Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors.

Isopropanolamine (1-Amino-2-propanol) is a colorless to yellowish liquid with an amine-like odor. It is miscible in water. Intermediate used in the production of dyes, lubrification oils, corrosion inhibitor, detergents, cutting fluids.

Temiverine was developed as an antimuscarinic and calcium-antagonist agent for the treatment of overactive bladder. Temiverine participated in clinical trials; however, the development of the drug was discontinued on the pre-registration stage.

Tefinostat (also known as CHR-2845) was developed as an innovative oral HDAC (histone deacetylase) inhibitor that selectively targets macrophages and monocytes – central cells of the innate immune system. Chroma Therapeutics develops tefinostat for the treatment of hematological and lymphoid malignancies. In addition, the drug is under investigation in clinical trial phase I/II for cancer-associated inflammation in hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study is to find the best dose of the drug without causing side effects. Besides, Phase II of clinical trial ‘MONOCLE’ study for the treatment of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) has been initiated and the first patient has been recruited.