Phenomorphan

Phenomorphan
Clinical data
Other names(-)-3-hydroxy- N- (2-phenylethyl) morphinan
ATC code
  • none
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
  • 17-(2-Phenylethyl)morphinan-3-ol
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.006.732 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC24H29NO
Molar mass347.502 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • Oc3ccc4C[C@H]1N(CC[C@@]2(CCCC[C@@H]12)c4c3)CCc5ccccc5
  • InChI=1S/C24H29NO/c26-20-10-9-19-16-23-21-8-4-5-12-24(21,22(19)17-20)13-15-25(23)14-11-18-6-2-1-3-7-18/h1-3,6-7,9-10,17,21,23,26H,4-5,8,11-16H2/t21-,23+,24+/m0/s1 checkY
  • Key:CFBQYWXPZVQQTN-QPTUXGOLSA-N checkY
  (verify)

Phenomorphan[2] is an opioid analgesic. It is not currently used in medicine, but has similar side-effects to other opiates, which include itching, nausea and respiratory depression.

Phenomorphan is a highly potent drug due to the N-phenethyl group, which boosts affinity to the μ-opioid receptor, and so phenomorphan is around 10x more potent than levorphanol, which is itself 6-8x the potency of morphine. Other analogues where the N-(2-phenylethyl) group has been replaced by other aromatic rings[3] are even more potent, with the N-(2-(2-furyl)ethyl) and the N-(2-(2-thienyl)ethyl) analogues being 60x and 45x stronger than levorphanol, respectively.[4]

  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. ^ US patent 2885401, Grussner A, Hellerbach J, Schnider O, "Process for making morphinan derivatives and products available thereby", published 1956-03-22, issued 1959-05-05 
  3. ^ US patent 2970147, Andre Grussner, Joseph Hellerbach, Otto Schnider, "3-hydroxy-N-(heterocyclic-ethyl)-morphinans", published 1958-11-26, issued 1961-01-31 
  4. ^ Hellerbach J, Schnider O, Besendorf H, Pellmont B (1966). Synthetic Analgesics: Part IIA. Morphinans. International series of monographs on organic chemistry. Pergamon Press.