MAM-2201 (4'-methyl-AM-2201, 5"-fluoro-JWH-122) is a drug that presumably acts as a potent agonist for the cannabinoid receptors.[2][3] It had never previously been reported in the scientific or patent literature, and was first identified by laboratories in the Netherlands and Germany in June 2011 as an ingredient in synthetic cannabis smoking blends.[4][5][6] Like RCS-4 and AB-001, MAM-2201 thus appears to be a novel compound invented by "research chemical" suppliers specifically for grey-market recreational use. Structurally, MAM-2201 is a hybrid of two known cannabinoid compounds JWH-122 and AM-2201, both of which had previously been used as active ingredients in synthetic cannabis blends before being banned in many countries.
A study of MAM-2201 in rats showed that it causes neurofunctional disruptions.[7] A later study demonstrated that MAM-2201 bound to and activated human CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors and substituted for THC in THC drug discrimination in mice.[8]
^Zaitsu K, Nakayama H, Yamanaka M, Hisatsune K, Taki K, Asano T, et al. (November 2015). "High-resolution mass spectrometric determination of the synthetic cannabinoids MAM-2201, AM-2201, AM-2232, and their metabolites in postmortem plasma and urine by LC/Q-TOFMS". International Journal of Legal Medicine. 129 (6): 1233–45. doi:10.1007/s00414-015-1257-4. PMID26349566. S2CID24905067.
^Kim JH, Kong TY, Moon JY, Choi KH, Cho YY, Kang HC, et al. (April 2018). "Targeted and non-targeted metabolite identification of MAM-2201 in human, mouse, and rat hepatocytes". Drug Testing and Analysis. 10 (8): 1328–1335. doi:10.1002/dta.2389. PMID29608249.
^Moosmann B, Kneisel S, Girreser U, Brecht V, Westphal F, Auwärter V (July 2012). "Separation and structural characterization of the synthetic cannabinoids JWH-412 and 1-[(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indol-3yl]-(4-methylnaphthalen-1-yl)methanone using GC-MS, NMR analysis and a flash chromatography system". Forensic Science International. 220 (1–3): e17-22. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.12.010. PMID22264627.
^Simolka K, Lindigkeit R, Schiebel HM, Papke U, Ernst L, Beuerle T (July 2012). "Analysis of synthetic cannabinoids in "spice-like" herbal highs: snapshot of the German market in summer 2011". Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 404 (1): 157–71. doi:10.1007/s00216-012-6122-4. PMID22710567. S2CID24068469.
^Zaitsu K, Hayashi Y, Suzuki K, Nakayama H, Hattori N, Takahara R, et al. (September 2015). "Metabolome disruption of the rat cerebrum induced by the acute toxic effects of the synthetic cannabinoid MAM-2201". Life Sciences. 137: 49–55. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2015.05.013. PMID26032255.