Etomethazene

{{Short description|Chemical compound}}

{{cs1 config |name-list-style=vanc|display-authors=6}}

{{drugbox

| drug_name = Etomethazene

| image = Etomethazen.svg

| image_class = skin-invert-image

| legal_UK =

| legal_DE =

| C = 23 | H = 31 | N = 3 | O = 1

| IUPAC_name = 2-[(4-ethoxyphenyl)methyl]-N,N-diethyl-5-methyl-1H-benzimidazole-1-ethanamine

| CAS_number = 95293-25-7

| UNII =

| ChemSpiderID =

| PubChem = 168310446

| smiles = CCOc3ccc(Cc2nc1cc(C)ccc1n2CCN(CC)CC)cc3

| StdInChI= 1S/C23H31N3O/c1-5-25(6-2)14-15-26-22-13-8-18(4)16-21(22)24-23(26)17-19-9-11-20(12-10-19)27-7-3/h8-13,16H,5-7,14-15,17H2,1-4H3

| StdInChIKey = ZARKNPABJGEAOQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N

}}

Etomethazene (5-methyldesnitroetonitazene, 5-methyl etodesnitazene, Eto) is a benzimidazole derivative with opioid effects which has been sold as a designer drug over the internet since 2022, first being definitively identified in Sweden in January 2023.{{cite journal | vauthors = De Vrieze LM, Walton SE, Pottie E, Papsun D, Logan BK, Krotulski AJ, Stove CP, Vandeputte MM | title = In vitro structure-activity relationships and forensic case series of emerging 2-benzylbenzimidazole 'nitazene' opioids | journal = Archives of Toxicology | volume = | issue = | pages = | date = June 2024 | pmid = 38877156 | doi = 10.1007/s00204-024-03774-7 | doi-access = free | pmc = 11324687 }}{{cite web | url = https://www.euda.europa.eu/sites/default/files/pdf/31883_en.pdf?606797 | title = New psychoactive substances - the current situation in Europe | work = European Drug Report | publisher = European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) | date = 2024 }} It is an analogue of etonitazene where the nitro (NO₂) group has been replaced by a methyl (CH₃) group. While formal studies into its pharmacology have yet to be carried out, it showed far less potency than etonitazene itself. Etomethazene has an analgesic potency around 20 times that of morphine with a relatively short duration of about 120 min.{{cite web | title = Early signal alert: Emergence of online mentions of etomethazene | url = https://ndews.org/wordpress/files/2023/04/7.1.22.pdf | work = National Drug Early Warning System | publisher = University of Florida, New York University, and Florida Atlantic University | issue = 91 | date = 1 July 2022 }}{{cite web | url = https://www.caymanchem.com/product/36767/5-methyl-etodesnitazene-(citrate) | title = 5-methyl Etodesnitazene (citrate) | work = Caymanchem.com }}{{cite web | url = https://www.aklagare.se/globalassets/dokument/narkotikapreparat/e/etometazen2.pdf | title = Klassificeringsdokument Narkotika. Etometazen (5-metyletodesnitazen) | work = Folkhälsomyndigheten (The Public Health Authority) | language = Swedish }}