Substituted benzofuran

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Short description: Class of chemical compounds
General chemical structure of substituted benzofurans

The substituted benzofurans are a class of chemical compounds based on the heterocyclic and polycyclic compound benzofuran. Many medicines use the benzofuran core as a scaffold,[1][2][3] but most commonly the term is used to refer to the simpler compounds in this class which include numerous psychoactive drugs, including stimulants, psychedelics and empathogens. In general, these compounds have a benzofuran core to which a 2-aminoethyl group is attached (at any position), and combined with a range of other substituents.[4][5][6][7] Some psychoactive derivatives from this family have been sold under the name Benzofury.[8]

Use and effects

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Benzofurans like 5-APB and 6-APB are said to have relatively minor psychedelic effects.[12][13]

Interactions

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Activities of benzofurans and their MDxx relatives
Compound Monoamine release (EC50, nM) Ref
5-HT NE DA
5-APB 19 21 31 [14]
6-APB 36 14 10 [14]
5-MAPB 64–90 24 41–459 [14][15]
  (S)-5-MAPB 67 ND 258 [15]
  (R)-5-MAPB 184 ND 1,951 [15]
6-MAPB 33 14 20 [14]
5-MABB (5-MBPB) ND ND ND [16][17]
  (S)-5-MABB 31 158 210 [16][17]
  (R)-5-MABB 49 850 IA [16][17]
6-MABB (6-MBPB) ND ND ND [16][17]
  (R)-6-MABB 172 227 IA [16][17]
  (S)-6-MABB 54 77 41 [16][17]
BK-5-MAPB ND ND ND ND
BK-6-MAPB ND ND ND ND
MDA 160–162 47–108 106–190 [18][19][14]
MDMA 50–85 54–110 51–278 [20][21][22][18][14]
MBDB 540 3,300 >100,000 [23]
Methylone 234–708 140–270 117–220 [21][24][25][26][27]
Notes: The smaller the value, the more strongly the compound produces the effect. The assays were done in rat brain synaptosomes and human potencies may be different. See also Monoamine releasing agent § Activity profiles for a larger table with more compounds.

Benzofurans like 5-APB and 6-APB act as serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agents and as serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonists.[9][11][28] In addition, some benzofurans, including 5-MAPB, 6-MAPB, BK-5-MAPB, and BK-6-MAPB, have unexpectedly been found to be potent serotonin 5-HT1B receptor agonists.[29] Along with serotonin release and other actions, this property may be involved may be involved in their entactogenic effects.[29] Conversely, MDMA is much less potent as an agonist of the serotonin 5-HT1B receptor.[29]

Chemistry

History

The 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans 5-APDB and 6-APDB were described by David E. Nichols and colleagues at Purdue University as MDMA analogues in 1993.[14][8][13][28][30][31] Subsequently, the benzofurans 5-APB and 6-APB emerged as novel designer drugs in 2010.[13][8][28] Prior to this, they had been patented by Eli Lilly and Company as serotonin 5-HT2C receptor agonists for potential treatment of eating disorders and seizures in 2000 and 2006.[14][8][13] 5-APB and 6-APB are often confused with 5-APDB and 6-APDB.[8] The pharmacology of various benzofurans and 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans was further clarified in the mid-2010s and thereafter.[32][33][28][14]

Society and culture

Substituted benzofurans saw widespread use as recreational drugs by being sold as research chemicals making them exempt from drug legislation. Many of the more common compounds were banned in the UK in June 2013 as temporary class drugs, while others have been made permanently illegal in various jurisdictions.[34][35][36]

List of substituted benzofurans

The derivatives may be produced by substitutions at six locations of the benzofuran molecule, as well as saturation of the 2,3- double bond.

The following table displays notable derivatives that have been reported:[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47]

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See also

References

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  4. "Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicology of new psychoactive substances (NPS): 2C-B, 4-fluoroamphetamine and benzofurans". Drug and Alcohol Dependence 157: 18–27. December 2015. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.10.011. PMID 26530501. 
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