Metizolam

Metizolam

Product Name: Deschloroetizolam Synonyms: Etizolam-2; ETZ-2; 2-Ethyl-9-methyl-4-phenyl-6H-thieno[3,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]diazepine12

Metizolam General Description: Deschloroetizolam is formally described as 2-ethyl-9-methyl-4-phenyl-6H-thieno[3,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]diazepine.1 It is a synthetic, psychoactive molecule belonging to the thienodiazepine class (specifically the thienotriazolodiazepine subclass).23 Structurally, it is the direct dechlorinated analogue of the well-known pharmaceutical and designer drug etizolam, differing only by the absence of the chlorine atom at the ortho-position of the phenyl ring.3 It emerged on the illicit market in the 2010s as a novel psychoactive substance (NPS) and designer drug sought for its anxiolytic and sedative properties.23

In analytical, clinical, and forensic toxicology, deschloroetizolam is utilized as a fundamental reference standard.3 It is essential for the calibration of analytical instrumentation (such as LC-MS/MS and GC-MS) and the development of screening methodologies to identify and quantify the substance in seized materials, counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets, or biological matrices (e.g., whole blood, plasma, urine).3

Metizolam Technical Information:

• CAS Number: 40054-73-724
• Molecular Formula: C₁₇H₁₆N₄S134
• Formula Weight: 308.40 g/mol134
• SMILES: CC1=NN=C2CN=C(C3=CC=CC=C3)C4=C(SC(CC)=C4)N21123
• InChI Key: JIOBORXCOGMHSV-UHFFFAOYSA-N12
• Formulation: Typically supplied as a neat white-to-off-white crystalline solid or as a certified reference material solution (e.g., 1 mg/mL or 100 µg/mL in methanol or acetonitrile).12

Metizolam Biological Action: Like other thienodiazepines and classical benzodiazepines, deschloroetizolam acts as a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) at central GABA_A receptors.23 By enhancing the inhibitory signaling of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), it elicits anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, muscle relaxant, and anticonvulsant effects.3 Pharmacological profiles and anecdotal reports indicate that the removal of the 2-chloro substitution decreases its binding affinity compared to etizolam, rendering deschloroetizolam approximately half as potent by weight, while simultaneously exhibiting a prolonged duration of action and a slower elimination half-life.3

Regulatory and Safety Information:

• Intended Use: This product is intended strictly for use as an analytical reference standard for forensic, toxicological, and academic research purposes.3
• Warning: This product carries a significant risk of central nervous system depression, physiological dependence, and potentially fatal overdose, especially when combined with other depressants such as opioids or alcohol.3 It is not for human or veterinary use.123
• Legal Status: The regulatory status of deschloroetizolam varies globally.23 In the United Kingdom, it is controlled as a Class C substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act.3 In the United States, deschloroetizolam is not explicitly scheduled at the federal level under the Controlled Substances Act; however, several individual states (such as Alabama and Virginia) have proactively classified it as a Schedule I controlled substance.3 It is also regulated or banned under generic designer benzodiazepine clauses in numerous European nations (including Sweden and Germany).23 Procurement may require relevant local or institutional licenses.23 Handling should only occur within professional laboratory environments using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, chemical-resistant gloves, and a laboratory coat.