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 has since been identified by CanTEST in May 2024 in Australia^[2] and in late 2025 in Brazil by the State University of Campinas poison control center.^[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

It is an analogue of protonitazene where the N,N-diethyl group has been substituted for pyrrolidine group. While formal studies into its pharmacology have yet to be carried out, it is has an in vitro potency approximately 350x times that of morphine.^[4]

See also

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