4-NEMD

4-NEMD

Systematic (IUPAC) name
4-(1-Naphthalen-1-ylethyl)-1H-imidazole
Identifiers
CAS Number	137967-81-8 N
PubChem	CID: 132110
ChemSpider	24531958 Y
Chemical data
Formula	C15H14N2
Molecular mass	222.29 g·mol−1
SMILES CC(C1=CC=CC2=CC=CC=C21)C3=CN=CN3
InChI InChI=1S/C15H14N2/c1-11(15-9-16-10-17-15)13-8-4-6-12-5-2-3-7-14(12)13/h2-11H,1H3,(H,16,17)/t11-/m0/s1 Y Key:DZSQSLQSMKNVBV-NSHDSACASA-N Y
NY (what is this?)  (verify)

4-NEMD is a potent sedative drug which acts as a selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist. It is closely related to dexmedetomidine but is several times more potent. Like other alpha-2 agonists, it produces sedative and muscle relaxant effects but without producing respiratory depression. It is not currently used in medicine but has been researched as the basis for a potential new generation of alpha-2 agonist drugs, which may have selectivity for the different subtypes of the alpha-2 receptor. It has two isomers, with the (S) isomer being the more potent, as with medetomidine. 4-NEMD was also investigated by the United States military as an anaesthetic agent, most likely for use in surgery but possibly also for use as a non-lethal incapacitating agent.