N-Bn-THAZ
N-Bn-THAZ is a selective agonist of the serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors. It is a derivative of THAZ, which itself is a weak antagonist of the glycine and GABAA receptors related to the experimental drug gaboxadol.
N-Bn-THAZ shows high affinity, activational potency, and efficacy at the serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors. Its affinities were 8,800nM at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor and 2,300nM at the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor, while its activational activities were 550 to 2,400nM at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor and 420 to 1,700nM at the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor. N-Bn-THAZ showed selectivity for these receptors over numerous other targets, notably including the serotonin 5-HT2B receptor antitarget.
The drug has been found to produce pro-cognitive-like effects in rodents. These effects could be fully reversed by the selective serotonin 5-HT2C receptor antagonist SB-242084. The researchers did not assess N-Bn-THAZ in terms of psychedelic-like effects, but as a serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist, they noted that the drug could potentially produce hallucinogenic effects. Due to its lack of serotonin 5-HT2B receptor activity, N-Bn-THAZ would not be expected to have the cardiovascular adverse effects of agonists of this receptor.
N-Bn-THAZ was developed by Povl Krogsgaard-Larsen and colleagues and was first described in the scientific literature by 2013. Structurally, N-Bn-THAZ is an isoxazole and is distinct from other serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonists, such as the tryptamines and phenethylamines. Other analogues of N-Bn-THAZ, such as O-Bn-THAZ, which is also active as a serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonist, have been synthesized and studied as well.