Skip to content
carfentanil

Structure via PubChem · Public domain (PubChem)

EntityQ423386· pop 24· linked from 1,136 articles

carfentanil

Sign in to save

Also known as carfentanyl, methyl 1-fenylethyl-4-(N-fenylpropionamido)isonipecotaat, methyl 4-(N-propionyl-N-fenylamino)-1-(2-fenylethyl)-4-piperidine-carboxylaat, methyl 4-[N-(1-oxopropyl)-N-fenylamino]-1-(2-fenylethyl)-4-piperidinecarboxylaat, 4-[(1-oxopropyl)fenylamino]-1-(2-fenylethyl)-4-piperidinecarbonzuurmethylester

Carfentanil or carfentanyl, formerly sold under the brand name Wildnil, is an extremely potent opioid analgesic used in veterinary medicine to anesthetize large animals such as elephants and rhinoceroses. It is a structural analogue of the synthetic opioid analgesic fentanyl. It is typically administered in this context by tranquilizer dart. Carfentanil has also been used in humans to image opioid receptors. It has additionally been used as a recreational drug, typically by injection, insufflation, or inhalation. Deaths have been reported in association with carfentanil.

Chemical data

Formula
C24H30N2O3
Molecular weight
394.5 g/mol
IUPAC name
methyl 1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-(N-propanoylanilino)piperidine-4-carboxylate
SMILES
CCC(=O)N(C1=CC=CC=C1)C2(CCN(CC2)CCC3=CC=CC=C3)C(=O)OC
InChIKey
YDSDEBIZUNNPOB-UHFFFAOYSA-N
XLogP
3.8
Polar surface area
49.9 Ų
H-bond donors
0
H-bond acceptors
4
Formal charge
0

via PubChem

Research

548 papers

via PubMed

~8 min read

Encyclopedic overview

14 sections
Contents
  • Uses
  • Veterinary use
  • Clinical use
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacodynamics
  • Pharmacokinetics
  • History
  • Increase in illicit use
  • Seizures by authorities
  • Moscow theater hostage crisis
  • Potential as a chemical weapon
  • Legal status
  • See also
  • References

Carfentanil or carfentanyl, formerly sold under the brand name Wildnil, is an extremely potent opioid analgesic used in veterinary medicine to anesthetize large animals such as elephants and rhinoceroses. It is a structural analogue of the synthetic opioid analgesic fentanyl. It is typically administered in this context by tranquilizer dart. Carfentanil has also been used in humans to image opioid receptors. It has additionally been used as a recreational drug, typically by injection, insufflation, or inhalation. Deaths have been reported in association with carfentanil.

Effects and side effects of carfentanil in humans are similar to those of other opioids and include euphoria, relaxation, pain relief, pupil constriction, drowsiness, sedation, slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, lowered body temperature, loss of consciousness, and suppression of breathing. The effects of carfentanil, including overdose, can be reversed by the opioid antagonists naloxone and naltrexone, though higher doses than usual may be necessary compared to other opioids. It acts as an ultrapotent and highly selective agonist of the μ-opioid receptor.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “carfentanil” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.