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. 2024 Aug 7;15(9):1409-1416.
doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.4c00322. eCollection 2024 Sep 12.

Chiral Switches of Tramadol Hydrochloride, a Potential Psychedelic Drug-Past and Future

Israel Agranat  1 , Ilaria D'Acquarica  2
Affiliations

Chiral Switches of Tramadol Hydrochloride, a Potential Psychedelic Drug-Past and Future

Israel Agranat et al. ACS Med Chem Lett. .

Abstract

The chiral opioid analgesic tramadol was patented (1962) as a cis- and trans-racemates mixture. A first chiral switch led to the (±)-cis-(1RS,2RS) racemate, patented and approved as Tramal (1980), preferred over the (+)-cis-(1R,2R)-enantiomer. Consecutive chiral switches of (±)-cis-tramadol to (+)-cis-(1R,2R)-tramadol/salts were patented. This Viewpoint calls for developing (+)-cis-(1R,2R)-tramadol medicines and recognizing tramadol medicines as potential psychedelics to overcome the spreading tramadol crisis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

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