(±)-WIN 55,212-2 is a potent aminoalkylindole cannabinoid (CB) receptor agonist with a Ki value of 62.3 and 3.3 nM for human recombinant central cannabinoid (CB1) and peripheral cannabinoid (CB2) receptors, respectively. In contrast, the enantiomer (-)-WIN 55,212-3 acts a partial inverse agonist at CB1 (pIC50 = 5.5) and as a competitive neutral antagonist of CB2, reversing the inverse agonism evoked by SR 144528 (pEC50 = 5.3). (+)-WIN 55,212 (mesylate) is a mixture of the two enantiomers, (+)-WIN 55,212-2 and (-)-WIN 55,212-3.
Cannabipiperidiethanone, a synthetic cannabinoid structurally similar to JWH 250 and AM2233, has been detected in prohibited herbal blends in Japan. It exhibits affinity for CB1 and CB2 receptors with IC50 values of 591 nM and 968 nM, respectively. Compared to JWH 250, its affinities for CB1 and CB2 receptors are 2.3- and 9.4-fold lower, and 13- and 70-fold lower than (R)-(+)-WIN 55,212-2, respectively. Cannabipiperidiethanone is designated for forensic and research purposes only.
JWH 020, a cannabimimetic indole derivative of WIN 55,212-1, exhibits notably weaker affinities for the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 (128 and 205 nM, respectively) compared to WIN 55,212-2 (1.89 and 0.28 nM, respectively). The in vivo effects of JWH 020 have not been studied. This compound is designed for forensic and research purposes.