A Novel (Benzodifuranyl)aminoalkane with Extremely Potent Activity at the 5-HT2A Receptor
Thus, benzodifuran 3* is the most potent known ligand
for the 5-HT2A receptor. It is the first arylethylamine
derivative to surpass LSD in potency in a behavioral
assay and the first compound with LSD-like activity to
have an aromatic nucleus other than benzene or indole.
At the cloned human 5-HT2C receptor, its affinity is
double that at the 5-HT2A receptor, making it also the
most potent ligand yet reported for that site.
It should also be noted that 3 was synthesized here
as the racemate. If, as previously observed for hallucinogenic
phenethylamines,10-13 the activity is found
to reside primarily in the R enantiomer, it would be
expected to exhibit approximately twice the potency of
the racemic material.