Substituted benzothiophene
Class of chemical compounds
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The substituted benzothiophenes are a class of chemical compounds based on benzothiophene.[1][2] They are closely related to the substituted benzofurans, substituted tryptamines, and to other chemical groups such as the substituted benzodioxoles (or methylenedioxyphenyl compounds).[1][2]
Substituted benzothiophenes include S-DMT (1-thia-DMT)[3] and the (2-aminopropyl)benzo[β]thiophenes (APBTs) 2-APBT, 3-APBT (1-thia-AMT; SKF-6678), 4-APBT, 5-APBT, 5-MAPBT, 6-APBT, 6-MAPBT, and 7-APBT.[1][2] These drugs have been found to act as serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agents (SNDRAs) and, in some cases, as potent serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonists, analogously to the entactogen MDMA.[2] They do not produce hyperlocomotion in rodents, suggesting that they lack psychostimulant effects.[2] However, those acting as serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonists have been found to induce the head-twitch response, a behavioral proxy of psychedelic effects, in rodents.[2] Some APBTs, such as 5-APBT and 6-APBT, have additionally been found to be potent monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), specifically of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A).[4]
The preceding findings suggest that substituted benzothiophenes may have entactogenic and/or psychedelic effects in humans whilst lacking stimulant effects and possibly having reduced misuse potential.[2] The substituted benzothiophenes have been little-encountered as designer drugs as of 2022.[1][2]
Tactogen has patented a number of benzothiophenes as novel entactogens for use as potential medicines.[5][6][7]
