Chemistry:Naphthoylindoles

Short description: Class of chemical compounds

Chemical structure of JWH-018, a simple naphthoylindole

Naphthoylindoles are a class of synthetic cannabinoids.

Pharmacology

Behaving similarly in vivo to endocannabinoids such as anandamide or 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), Naphthoylindoles can bind to endocannabinoid receptors in animals, presenting as CB₁ and/or CB₂ partial/full agonists.

History

They have gained notoriety over the years for illicit usage and distribution in Europe and North America, typically marketed as "herbal incense blends."

See also

• Structural scheduling of synthetic cannabinoids