Synthetic Analgesics

Abstract

ATTEMPTS to prepare new analgesics have, for many years, been based almost exclusively on the morphine molecule, the peripheral groups of which may be modified considerably with relatively little effect on the biological activity. The synthetic drug ‘Pethidine' (ethyl 4-phenyl-1-methylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) has several structural features in common with morphine, and there is a considerable body of evidence which relates analgesics of the piperidine type to the morphine model^1–4. The recently discovered ‘Amidone' (dl-2-dimethylamino-4 : 4-di-phenylheptan-5-one) is also a potent analgesic. We have examined three types of compound for analgesic, antispasmodic and local anæsthetic action. Although none of these compounds is closely related to morphine, several have an analgesic potency equivalent to or approaching that of ‘Pethidine'.