Ortho-Methylphenylpiperazine Explained

ortho-Methylphenylpiperazine (also known as oMPP, oMePP, 1-(2-methylphenyl)piperazine, 2-MPP, and 2-MePP) is a psychoactive designer drug of the phenylpiperazine group.^{[1] [2]} It acts as a serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA), with EC₅₀ values for induction of monoamine release of 175 nM for serotonin, 39.1 nM for norepinephrine, and 296–542 nM for dopamine.^{[3] [4]} As such, it has about 4.5-fold preference for induction of norepinephrine release over serotonin, and about 7.6- to 13.9-fold preference for induction of norepinephrine release over dopamine.

The 2,3-methyl and 4-methyl analogues show diminished activity as dopamine releasing agents with respective EC₅₀ values of 1,207 nM and 9,523 nM. However, at the same time, induction of serotonin and norepinephrine release is retained and more balanced in the 2,3-methyl analogue, with respective EC₅₀ values of 26 nM and 56 nM.

See also

• Substituted piperazine

Notes and References

1. de Boer D, Bosman IJ, Hidvégi E, Manzoni C, Benkö AA, dos Reys LJ, Maes RA . Piperazine-like compounds: a new group of designer drugs-of-abuse on the European market . Forensic Sci. Int. . 121 . 1–2 . 47–56 . 2001 . 11516887 . 10.1016/s0379-0738(01)00452-2.
2. Monteiro MS, Bastos Mde L, Guedes de Pinho P, Carvalho M . Update on 1-benzylpiperazine (BZP) party pills . Arch. Toxicol. . 87 . 6 . 929–47 . 2013 . 23685794 . 10.1007/s00204-013-1057-x . 253718416 .
3. Kohut SJ, Jacobs DS, Rothman RB, Partilla JS, Bergman J, Blough BE . Cocaine-like discriminative stimulus effects of "norepinephrine-preferring" monoamine releasers: time course and interaction studies in rhesus monkeys . Psychopharmacology . 2017 . 234 . 23–24 . 3455–3465 . 28889212 . 10.1007/s00213-017-4731-5 . 5747253 .
4. Reith ME, Blough BE, Hong WC, Jones KT, Schmitt KC, Baumann MH, Partilla JS, Rothman RB, Katz JL . Behavioral, biological, and chemical perspectives on atypical agents targeting the dopamine transporter . Drug Alcohol Depend . 147 . 1–19 . 2015 . 25548026 . 4297708 . 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.12.005 .