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 Other analogues where the N-(2-phenylethyl) group has been replaced by other aromatic rings[3] are even more potent, with the N-(2-(2-furyl)ethyl) and the N-(2-(2-thienyl)ethyl) analogues being 60x and 45x stronger than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]
^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
^US patent 2970147, Andre Grussner, Joseph Hellerbach, Otto Schnider, "3-hydroxy-N-(heterocyclic-ethyl)-morphinans", published 1958-11-26, issued 1961-01-31
^Hellerbach J, Schnider O, Besendorf H, Pellmont B (1966). Synthetic Analgesics: Part IIA. Morphinans. International series of monographs on organic chemistry. Pergamon Press.