[Identification of Three Arylcyclohexylamines (MXPr, MXiPr, and DMXE) in Illegal Products].
Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan – January 01, 2022
Source: PubMed
Summary
Dangerous new psychoactive substances, derivatives of the controlled anesthetic-related compound methoxetamine, are emerging. Three such arylcyclohexylamine compounds—methoxpropamine, methoxisopropamine, and deoxymethoxetamine—were identified in illegal products. Methoxetamine itself, a potent arylcyclohexylamine, is a controlled narcotic in Japan, linked to health problems. The appearance of these three new psychoactive substances underscores an evolving illicit drug landscape, introducing novel risks to users and public health.
Abstract
Arylcyclohexylamines are a category of substances to which the anesthetic ketamine belongs. The arylcyclohexylamines have been reported to act as antagonists of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. An analog of ketamine, 2-(ethylamino)-2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-cyclohexanone (methoxetamine; MXE), has been controlled as a narcotic in Japan and overdoses of MXE have been reported to cause health problems. In recent years, MXE derivatives have beendetected in illegal products in Japan. In this study, we describe the identification of three MXE derivatives, 2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2-(propylamino)cyclohexan-1-one (methoxpropamine; MXPr), 2-(isopropylamino)-2-(3-methoxyphenyl)cyclohexan-1-one (methoxisopropamine; MXiPr) and 2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2-(propylamino)cyclohexan-1-one (deoxymethoxetamine; DMXE), from illegal products.