JWH-073

jwh-073 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family that acts as a partial agonist at both the cb1 and cb2 cannabinoid receptors. it is somewhat selective for the cb1 subtype, with affinity at this subtype approximately 5x the affinity at cb2. the abbreviation jwh stands for john w. huffman, one of the inventors of the compound.

jwh-073 gained popularity in april 2009, when it was claimed by chemists at the university of freiburg to have been found in a “fertilizer” product called “forest humus”, along with another synthetic cannabinoid, cp 47,497. it was subsequently found as a chemical within the popular synthetic cannabis blend spice, which had been sold in numerous countries around the world since 2002.

cannabinoids are commonly smoked or vaporized to achieve a quick onset of effects and rapid offset. jwh-073 is orally active when dissolved in a lipid, which can increase the duration significantly. like other cannabinoids, it is insoluble in water but dissolves in ethanol and lipids.

unlike cannabis, the chronic abuse of synthetic cannabinoids has been associated with multiple deaths and more dangerous side effects and toxicity in general. therefore, it is strongly discouraged to take this substance for extended periods of time or in excessive doses.

chemistry

jwh-073, or naphthalen-1-yl-(1-butylindol-3-yl)methanone, is a synthetic cannabinoid containing a substituted indole structure. this indole core is shared with other cannabinoid substances including pb-22, 5f-pb-22, jwh-018, and am2201. jwh-018 is substituted at r₁ with a butyl chain. additionally, the indole core is substituted at r₃ with a carbonyl group which is also bonded to a napthalene moeity.

napthalene is a bicyclic structure of two fused benzene rings. this carbonyl bridge of jwh-073 classifies it as a ketone. jwh-073 is an analog of thj-073 in which the core indazole structure is substituted with an indole base.

pharmacology

unlike most synthetic cannabinoids (including jwh-018) jwh-073 is a partial agonist of both the cb1 and cb2 cannabinoid receptors; however, unlike jwh-018, jwh-073 has not been researched well in context to its interactions with humans. however, studies on animals have shown a higher binding profile than thc.