MDMB-FUBINACA (also known as MDMB(N)-Bz-F and FUB-MDMB) is an

indazole Indazole, also called isoindazole, is a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound. This bicyclic compound consists of the fusion of benzene and pyrazole. Indazole is an amphoteric molecule which can be protonated to an indazolium cation or deproton ...

-based

synthetic cannabinoid Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of designer drug molecules that bind to the same receptors to which cannabinoids (THC, CBD and many others) in cannabis plants attach. These novel psychoactive substances should not be confused with synthetic ...

that is a potent

agonist An agonist is a chemical that activates a receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are cellular proteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an antagonist blocks the action of the ago ...

for the

cannabinoid receptor Cannabinoid receptors, located throughout the body, are part of the endocannabinoid system a class of cell membrane receptors in the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. As is typical of G protein-coupled receptors, the cannabinoid recepto ...

s, with ''K''_i values of 1.14 nM at CB₁ and 0.1228 nM at CB₂ and EC₅₀ values of 0.2668 nM at CB₁ and 0.1411 nM at CB₂, and has been sold online as a

designer drug A designer drug is a structural or functional analog of a controlled substance that has been designed to mimic the pharmacological effects of the original drug, while avoiding classification as illegal and/or detection in standard drug tests. Des ...

. Its benzyl analogue (instead of 4-fluorobenzyl) has been reported to be a potent

for the CB₁ receptor (''K''_i = 0.14 nM, EC₅₀ = 2.42 nM). The structure of MDMB-FUBINACA contains the amino aci
3-methylvaline
or tert-

leucine Leucine (symbol Leu or L) is an essential amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. Leucine is an α-amino acid, meaning it contains an α-amino group (which is in the protonated −NH3+ form under biological conditions), an α- ca ...

methyl ester.

Side effects

There have been a large number of reported cases of deaths and hospitalizations in relation to this synthetic cannabinoid, mainly in Russia and Belarus. MDMB-FUBINACA was first reported in 2014 and quickly gained a reputation as the most deadly synthetic cannabinoid drug sold by 2015. Up to 700 hospitalisations and 25 deaths were initially linked to MDMB-FUBINACA in media and government reports, and subsequent testing confirmed that at least 1000 hospitalisations and 40 deaths had occurred as a consequence of intoxication by MDMB-FUBINACA as of March 2015.

Legal status

In the United States, MDMB-FUBINACA is a

Schedule I controlled substance This is the list of Schedule I drugs as defined by the United States Controlled Substances Act. 21 CFRbr>1308.11(CSA Sched I) with changes through (Oct 18, 2012). Retrieved September 6, 2013. The following findings are required for drugs to be pl ...

. As of October 2015, MDMB-FUBINACA is a controlled substance in Belarus, Russia, and China. In July 2021 it was included in Table II-A of the list of prohibited drugs of Portugal.

References

{{Cannabinoidergics Cannabinoids Designer drugs Indazolecarboxamides Fluoroarenes Tert-butyl compounds

Side effects

Legal status

See also

References