Protonitazepyne

Protonitazepyne (N-pyrrolidino protonitazene) is a benzimidazole derivative with opioid effects, which has been sold as a designer drug over the internet, first being mentioned in mid 2022 and definitively identified in drug seizures in Canada in early 2023 and Ireland in late 2023.^[1] It is an analogue of etonitazene where the ethoxy group has been extended to propoxy, and the N,N-diethyl substitution has been cyclised into a pyrrolidine ring. While formal studies into its pharmacology have yet to be carried out, it is believed to be slightly less potent than the ethoxy analogue etonitazepyne but still a potent opioid.^[2][3]

Protonitazepyne

Identifiers
IUPAC name 5-nitro-2-(4-propoxybenzyl)-1-(2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole
CAS Number	3038401-95-2
PubChem CID	168322728
ChemSpider	115005635
UNII	T3LB6K85C7
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C23H28N4O3
Molar mass	408.502 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
SMILES CCCOC1=CC=C(C=C1)CC2=NC3=C(N2CCN4CCCC4)C=CC(=C3)[N+](=O)[O-]
InChI InChI=1S/C23H28N4O3/c1-2-15-30-20-8-5-18(6-9-20)16-23-24-21-17-19(27(28)29)7-10-22(21)26(23)14-13-25-11-3-4-12-25/h5-10,17H,2-4,11-16H2,1H3 Key:KCRWXNIIXGBPID-UHFFFAOYSA-N

See also

• Isotonitazene
• Isotonitazepyne
• Metonitazene
• Etomethazene
• Etonitazepipne
• List of benzimidazole opioids

References

1. Killoran S, McNamara S, Kavanagh P, O'Brien J, Lakes R (May 2024). "Identification of N-pyrrolidino protonitazene in powders sold as heroin and associated with overdose clusters in Dublin and Cork, Ireland". Drug Testing and Analysis. doi:10.1002/dta.3707. PMID 38769669.
2. "Early signal alert: Emergence of online mentions of Protonitazepyne". National Drug Early Warning System. 29 July 2022.
3. "Analyzed Drug Report" (PDF). Drug Analysis Service and Cannabis Laboratories. Health Canada. April–June 2023.