Image: Wikimedia Commons

basic red 2

Chemical compound

Chemical compoundtype of chemical entityQ413672

Also known as Safranin

Formula: C₂₀H₁₉ClN₄
1
Sources
1.Stated in PubChem“BASIC RED 2”Retrieved 2016-10-14
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Mass: 350.13 Da
1
Sources
1.Stated in PubChem“BASIC RED 2”Retrieved 2016-10-14
View statement on Wikidata ↗

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

Safranin is a biological stain used in histology and cytology. Safranin is used as a counterstain in some staining protocols, colouring cell nuclei red. This is the classic counterstain in both Gram stains and endospore staining. It can also be used for the detection of cartilage, mucin and mast cell granules.

Overview

Chemistry

Computed by PubChem CID 2723800 (NIH) · Public domain

Molecular formula: C20H19ClN4
Molecular weight: 350.8 g/mol
IUPAC name: 3,7-dimethyl-10-phenylphenazin-10-ium-2,8-diamine chloride
SMILES: CC1=CC2=C(C=C1N)[N+](=C3C=C(C(=CC3=N2)C)N)C4=CC=CC=C4.[Cl-]
InChIKey: OARRHUQTFTUEOS-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Topological polar surface area: 68.8 Å²
H-bond donors / acceptors: 2 / 4
Complexity: 405

Chemistry

All data

39 statements · 54% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Canonical SMILES: CC1=CC2=C(C=C1N)[N+](=C3C=C(C(=CC3=N2)C)N)C4=CC=CC=C4.[Cl-]
1
Sources
1.Stated in PubChem“BASIC RED 2”Retrieved 2016-10-14
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Subject has role: antineoplastic
1
Sources
1.Stated in Medical Subject HeadingsRetrieved 2018-03-15
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Safety classification and labelling: NFPA 704: Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response nfpa health: 2 · nfpa fire: 0 · nfpa instability: 0
Subclass of: chemical compound
safranines
Has use: indicators and reagents
1
Sources
1.Stated in Medical Subject HeadingsRetrieved 2018-03-15
View statement on Wikidata ↗
dye
1
Sources
1.Stated in Medical Subject HeadingsRetrieved 2018-03-15
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Members / parts: carbon
chlorine
nitrogen
hydrogen

On other databases

25 identifiers linking basic red 2 across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

54%

externally sourced

Source last edited June 19, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). basic red 2 (Q413672). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/basic-red-2-Q413672