URB-754: A new class of designer drug and 12 synthetic cannabinoids detected in illegal products

URB-754 (6-methyl-2-[(4-methylphenyl)amino]-1-benzoxazin-4-one) was identified as a new type of designer drug in illegal products. Though many of the synthetic cannabinoids detected in illegal products are known to have affinities for cannabinoid CB1/CB2 receptors, URB-754 was reported to inhibit an endocannabinoid deactivating enzyme. Furthermore, an unknown compound (N,5-dimethyl-N-(1-oxo-1-(p-tolyl)butan-2-yl)-2-(N′-(p-tolyl)ureido)benzamide), which is deduced to be the product of a reaction between URB-754 and a cathinone derivative 4-methylbuphedrone (4-Me-MABP), was identified along with URB-754 and 4-Me-MABP in the same product. It is of interest that the product of a reaction between two different types of designer drugs, namely, a cannabinoid-related designer drug and a cathinone-type designer drug, was found in one illegal product. In addition, 12 cannabimimetic compounds, 5-fluoropentyl-3-pyridinoylindole, JWH-307, JWH-030, UR-144, 5FUR-144 (synonym: XLR11), (4-methylnaphtyl)-JWH-022 [synonym: N-(5-fluoropentyl)-JWH-122], AM-2232, (4-methylnaphtyl)-AM-2201 (MAM-2201), N-(4-pentenyl)-JWH-122, JWH-213, (4-ethylnaphtyl)-AM-2201 (EAM-2201) and AB-001, were also detected herein as newly distributed designer drugs in Japan. Furthermore, a tryptamine derivative, 4-hydroxy-diethyltryptamine (4-OH-DET), was detected together with a synthetic cannabinoid, APINACA, in the same product.