Benocyclidine, also known as benzothiophenylcyclohexylpiperidine (BTCP), is a psychoactiverecreational drug of the arylcyclohexylamine class which is related to phencyclidine (PCP). It was first described in a patent application naming Marc Caron and colleagues at Duke University in 1997.[1]
It acts as a potent and selectivedopamine reuptake inhibitor (DRI) and a psychostimulant.[2][3] Unlike related compounds like phencyclidine and ketamine, benocyclidine is a pure DRI with negligible affinity for the NMDA receptor, and it therefore lacks any anticonvulsant, anesthetic, hallucinogenic, or dissociative effects.[2][3] It has been used to label the dopamine transporter.[4][5] BCP was used to try to find a common pharmacophore for DRI type stimulants.[6]
More recently, benocyclidine has been found in several ecstasy tablets, sold as MDMA.[7]
Legal status in the United States[]
Benocyclidine is not scheduled at the federal level in the United States,[8] but may be considered an analog of PCP, in which case purchase, sale, or possession could be prosecuted under the Federal Analog Act.
Benocyclidine (BCP) or benzothiophenylcyclohexylpiperidine (BTCP) is a Schedule I controlled substance in the state of Florida, making it illegal to buy, sell, or possess in Florida.[9]
^PCT Patent Application WO199712513 (see also US Patents Nos.5,866,756 and 6,218,595
^ abVignon J, Pinet V, Cerruti C, Kamenka JM, Chicheportiche R (1998). "[3H]N-[1-(2-benzo(b)thiophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine ([3H]BTCP): a new phencyclidine analog selective for the dopamine uptake complex". Eur J Pharmacol. 148 (3): 427–436. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(88)90122-7. PMID3384005.
^ abChaudieu I, Vignon J, Chicheportiche M, Kamenka JM, Trouiller G, Chicheportiche R (1989). "Role of the aromatic group in the inhibition of phencyclidine binding and dopamine uptake by PCP analogs". Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 32 (3): 699–705. doi:10.1016/0091-3057(89)90020-8. PMID2544905. S2CID7672918.
^Filloux F, Hunt MA, Wamsley JK (1989). "Localization of the dopamine uptake complex using [3H]N-[1-(2-benzo(b)thiophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine ([3H]BTCP) in rat brain". Neurosci. Lett. 100 (1–3): 105–110. doi:10.1016/0304-3940(89)90668-X. PMID2527343. S2CID9985692.
^Maurice T, Vignon J, Kamenka JM, Chicheportiche R (1989). "In vivo labelling of the mouse dopamine uptake complex with the phencyclidine derivative [3H]BTCP". Neurosci. Lett. 101 (2): 234–238. doi:10.1016/0304-3940(89)90537-5. PMID2771169. S2CID24176107.
^Froimowitz M, Wu KM, Rodrigo J, George C (2000). "Conformational preferences of the potent dopamine reuptake blocker BTCP and its analogs and their incorporation into a pharmacophore model". J Comput Aided Mol Des. 14 (2): 135–46. Bibcode:2000JCAMD..14..135F. doi:10.1023/A:1008144707255. PMID10721502. S2CID6754086.