JWH-251 explained

JWH-251 (1-pentyl-3-(2-methylphenylacetyl)indole) is a synthetic cannabinoid from the phenylacetylindole family, which acts as a cannabinoid agonist with about five times selectivity for CB₁ with a K_i of 29 nM and 146 nM at CB₂. Similar to the related 2'-methoxy compound JWH-250, the 2'-chloro compound JWH-203, and the 2'-bromo compound JWH-249, JWH-251 has a phenylacetyl group in place of the naphthoyl ring used in most aminoalkylindole cannabinoid compounds.^{[1] [2]}

In the United States, all CB₁ receptor agonists of the 3-phenylacetylindole class such as JWH-251 are Schedule I Controlled Substances.

Notes and References

1. Huffman JW, Szklennik PV, Almond A, Bushell K, Selley DE, He H, Cassidy MP, Wiley JL, Martin BR . 6 . 1-Pentyl-3-phenylacetylindoles, a new class of cannabimimetic indoles . Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters . 15 . 18 . 4110–3 . September 2005 . 16005223 . 10.1016/j.bmcl.2005.06.008 .
2. Manera C, Tuccinardi T, Martinelli A . Indoles and related compounds as cannabinoid ligands . Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry . 8 . 4 . 370–87 . April 2008 . 18473928 . 10.2174/138955708783955935 .