page_title: Structural scheduling of synthetic cannabinoids
section_title: Common examples of general controls
hierarchical_section_title: Structural scheduling of synthetic cannabinoids / Common examples of general controls
caption_attribution_description: English: General structure of naphthoylpyrroles
context_page_description: To combat the illicit synthetic cannabinoid industry many jurisdictions have created a system to control these cannabinoids through their general structure as opposed to their specific identity. In this way new analogs are already controlled before they are even created. A large number of cannabinoids have been grouped into classes based on similarities in their chemical structure, and these classes have been widely adopted across a variety of jurisdictions.
  Typical groups of compounds included for control may include naphthoylindoles, phenylacetylindoles, benzoylindoles, cyclohexylphenols, naphthylmethylindoles, naphthoylpyrroles, naphthylmethylindenes, indole-3-carboxamides, indole-3-carboxylates, indazole-3-carboxamides and sometimes others, each with specific substitutions on specific atoms of the molecule. The scope of definitions and the range of compounds included may vary substantially between jurisdictions, so compounds which are legal in one country or state may be illegal in another.
context_section_description: Naphthoylindoles: Any compound containing a 3-(1-naphthoyl)indole structure with substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl group, whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent.
  One specific example given is JWH-018, one of the earliest synthetic cannabinoids identified.  Notice the indole ring has an alkyl substitution on the nitrogen atom, but there are no additional substitutions elsewhere on the molecule.
  Phenylacetylindoles: Any compound containing a 3-phenylacetylindole structure with substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl,1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl group whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the phenyl ring to any extent. 
  One example given is JWH-250.  There is an alkyl substitution on the nitrogen atom of the indole ring as well as a methoxy group attached to the phenyl ring.
  Benzoylindoles: Any compound containing a 3-(benzoyl)indole structure with substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl group whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the phenyl ring to any extent.    
  One example is RCS-4.  Note the alkyl group substitution on the nitrogen atom of the indole.  It is further substituted in the phenyl ring with a methoxy group.  
  Cyclohexylphenols: Any compound containing a 2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)phenol structure with substitution at the 5-position of the phenolic ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl group whether or not substituted in the cyclohexyl ring to any extent.  
  One example is CP 47,497. Notice the methyloctan-2-yl alkyl group substituted onto the 5-position of the phenol ring of the molecule. Note that this definition encompasses only those compounds that have OH groups attached to both the phenyl and the cyclohexyl rings, and so does not include compounds such as O-1871 which lacks the cyclohexyl OH group, or compounds such as JWH-337 or JWH-344 which lack the phenolic OH group. Some jurisdictions have addressed this by naming such compounds specifically, alternatively some have adopted broader definitions (such as in the Australian Federal Poisons Standard, which controls all derivatives of cyclohexylphenol unless otherwise specified).
  Naphthylmethylindoles: Any compound containing a 1H-indol-3-yl-(1-naphthyl)methane structure with substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl group whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent.    
  One example is JWH-175.  Notice the pentyl group substituted onto the nitrogen atom of the indole ring.  
  Naphthoylpyrroles: Any compound containing a 3-(1-naphthoyl)pyrrole structure with substitution at the nitrogen atom of the pyrrole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl group whether or not further substituted in the pyrrole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent.    
  One example is JWH-030.  Notice the pentyl group on the nitrogen atom of the pyrrole ring of the molecule.  
  Naphthylmethylindenes: Any compound containing a 1-(1-naphthylmethyl)indene structure with substitution at the 3-position of the indene ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl,  cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4
caption: Naphthoylpyrroles, where R, R1 and R2 are as defined in the statute
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