BACKGROUND: Propofol is a rapidly acting alkylphenol compound. Pofol is another alkylphenol compound that was made by Dong-guk Pharm Co. in Korea. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and complications of pofol in comparison with diprivan. METHOD: Fourty three unpremedicated patients were randomly allocated to receive one of two i.v. anesthetic agents(pofol and diprivan). We assessed the induction dose, the time to loss of consciousness, time to opening eyes on command, changes of vital sign and various complications of the two drugs. RESULT: There were no differences in induction dose and maintenance dose between pofol group (P) and diprivan group (D). The induction times of P were shoter than those of D and the recovery times of P longer than those of D. Both groups produced a significant fall in mean arterial pressure(MAP) and heart rate(HR) but there were no differences in changes of vital sign between two groups. There was no difference in incidence of pain between D and P (83% Vs 80%). Even though the characters of adverse events to P and D, the incidence rate was not different between two groups. CONCLUSION: There is no differences in efficacy and complication of pofol in comparison with diprivan except differences in induction times and recovery times between two groups. So we can use the pofol as the i.v. anesthetics as diprivan and further evaluations in induction times and recovery times are needed.