Aminorex

Aminorex
Skeletal formula
Ball-and-stick model of aminorex
Clinical data
ATC code
  • none
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
  • (RS)-5-Phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-amine
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.164.420 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC9H10N2O
Molar mass162.192 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
ChiralityRacemic mixture
  • NC1=NCC(C2=CC=CC=C2)O1
  • InChI=1S/C9H10N2O/c10-9-11-6-8(12-9)7-4-2-1-3-5-7/h1-5,8H,6H2,(H2,10,11) checkY
  • Key:SYAKTDIEAPMBAL-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  (verify)

Aminorex (Menocil, Apiquel, aminoxaphen, aminoxafen, McN-742) is a weight loss (anorectic) stimulant drug. It was withdrawn from the market after it was found to cause pulmonary hypertension.[2] In the U.S., it is an illegal Schedule I drug, meaning it has high abuse potential, no accepted medical use, and a poor safety profile.

Aminorex, in the 2-amino-5-aryl oxazoline class, was developed by McNeil Laboratories in 1962.[3] It is closely related to 4-methylaminorex. Aminorex has been shown to have locomotor stimulant effects, lying midway between dextroamphetamine and methamphetamine. Aminorex effects have been attributed to the release of catecholamines.[4] It can be produced as a metabolite of the worming medication levamisole, which is sometimes used as a cutting agent of illicitly produced cocaine.[5][6]

  1. ^ Anvisa (2023-03-31). "RDC Nº 784 - Listas de Substâncias Entorpecentes, Psicotrópicas, Precursoras e Outras sob Controle Especial" [Collegiate Board Resolution No. 784 - Lists of Narcotic, Psychotropic, Precursor, and Other Substances under Special Control] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário Oficial da União (published 2023-04-04). Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  2. ^ Gaine SP, Rubin LJ, Kmetzo JJ, Palevsky HI, Traill TA (November 2000). "Recreational use of aminorex and pulmonary hypertension". Chest. 118 (5): 1496–1497. doi:10.1378/chest.118.5.1496. PMID 11083709. Archived from the original on 2013-01-12.
  3. ^ US 3161650, Ireland PG, "2-Amino-5-Aryloxazoline Products", issued 15 December 1964, assigned to Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. 
  4. ^ Fishman AP (Jan 1991). "Aminorex to fen/phen: an epidemic foretold". Circulation. 99 (1): 156–161. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.99.1.156. PMID 9884392.
  5. ^ Ho EN, Leung DK, Leung GN, Wan TS, Wong AS, Wong CH, et al. (April 2009). "Aminorex and rexamino as metabolites of levamisole in the horse". Analytica Chimica Acta. 638 (1): 58–68. Bibcode:2009AcAC..638...58H. doi:10.1016/j.aca.2009.02.033. PMID 19298880.
  6. ^ Bertol E, Mari F, Milia MG, Politi L, Furlanetto S, Karch SB (July 2011). "Determination of aminorex in human urine samples by GC-MS after use of levamisole". Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 55 (5): 1186–1189. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2011.03.039. PMID 21531521.