2-Benzylpiperidine
2-Benzylpiperidine is a stimulant drug of the arylpiperidine family. It is similar in structure to certain other stimulants such as methylphenidate and desoxypipradrol. However, it is far less potent as a monoamine [reuptake inhibitor] in comparison. The drug is little used as a stimulant, with its main use being as a synthetic intermediate in the manufacture of other drugs.
Pharmacology
The affinity of 2-benzylpiperidine for the dopamine transporter has been reported to be 6,360nM and its functional inhibition of the DAT has been reported to be 3,780 to 8,800nM. These values were 85-fold and 53- to 38-fold lower than those of methylphenidate, respectively. It produced 36% inhibition of binding to the norepinephrine transporter and 22% inhibition of binding to the serotonin transporter at a concentration of 10,000nM. However, 2-phenylpiperidine might have actually been assayed by mistake in one of the two studies that reported the preceding values, and so some of the values might be incorrect. In another older study, 2-benzylpiperidine was reported to be similarly potent to dextroamphetamine in terms of norepinephrine reuptake inhibition.
s of 2-benzylpiperidine, such as the cathinone-like derivative α-keto-2-benzylpiperidine and its 4-methyl, 4-halo, and 3,4-dichloro analogues, have been synthesized and have been found to be much more potent as dopamine reuptake inhibitors. Another analogue of 2-benzylpiperidine, 3-phenylpiperidine, is also more potent as a monoamine reuptake inhibitor in comparison, with higher affinities for the monoamine transporters and ~8-fold higher functional inhibition of the DAT.