Bentley Compounds

[Laudaphun]

The Bentley Compounds are a class of opiates derived from thebaine that are exceedingly powerful. The most common example is etorphine which is approximately 1000 times more powerful than morphine and marketed under the brand name Immobilon, for veterinary practices... namely knocking down elephants. At one stage in history, the United States attempted to wipe the opium poppy off the face of the earth (Nixon's handiwork)... It was proposed that they produce thebaine from p. bracteaum, however then they discovered that these "Bentley Compounds" which were so much more powerful than morphine could be derived from thebaine. It was even suggested that the Bentley Compounds would replace street heroin... From an article on Nixon's crusade against opium and the concerns of the Bentley Compounds...

Some government scientists, fearing that the Bentley compounds would replace heroin, suggested growing the bracteatum on Air Force bases, surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by dogs. (One White House aide suggested that the Bentley compounds "would kill off half the heroin addicts, but then we might have a real problem with those that survive.")

SWIM found this quote somewhat amusing... Supposedly there are 20 some or more of these Bentley Compounds but there seems to be so little information about them. SWIM has spent some time searching and etorphine is the only specific example he can find. SWIM can't even find an actual definition of what would define a Bentley Compound. Based on what SWIM has read the only characteristics of a Bentley Compound is that it is significantly more potent mg per mg than morphine and that it is derived from thebaine. Etorphine being the only one there seems much documentation about and even that is limited. Does anyone know if buprenorphine would be considered a Bentley Compound? It is was produced from thebaine, it is more potent than morphine (swim didn't say more pleasureable), and it is even used to tranquillize animals in a similar preparation to that of the etorphine animal tranquillizer, albiet dogs instead of elephants hehe. SWIM just would like to complile some information on Bentley Compounds... A somewhat official definition would be a great start, perhaps they are better known by a different name?

[Laudaphun]

SWIM is assuming you meant the opiods site and not opiates one or is there another website that I'm missing? Anyways, your suggestion led me to discover this on the website SWIM is assuming you meant, it is a an analog of etorphine (the most commonly known bentley compound):

Potent reinforcing effects of dihydroetorphine in rats

by Greenwald MK, June HL, Stitzer ML, Marco AP Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1996 Jun; 277(3):1228-36

ABSTRACT

Dihydroetorphine is a novel opioid that is an extremely potent analgesic in rodents. The reinforcing potency was determined in rats trained to self-administer heroin and compared to those of fentanyl, heroin, 6-acetylmorphine and morphine for assessment of the abuse potential of dihydroetorphine using a procedure that determines the dose-effect curve in individual sessions. Dihydroetorphine produced a bimodal dose-effect curve similar to that of other opioids. Potency ratios were determined with morphine for the ascending and descending limbs of the dose-effect curve, as well as the dose that yielded maximal response rate. Fentanyl, heroin and 6-acetylmorphine were approximately 100, 8 and 2 times more potent than morphine in maintaining self-administration, respectively. Dihydroetorphine was roughly 1500 to 3000 times more potent than morphine, however, depending upon the limb of the dose-effect curve used for comparison. These potency ratios of dihydroetorphine to morphine were somewhat less than has been reported for analgesia assays, and therefore this compound may have some clinical advantages over other opioids. However, these studies indicate significant abuse liability for dihydroetorphine given its potency in maintaining self-administration in these animals.

SWIM would like to read more about that study... It seems pharmacology books and journals will probably her best source of information.

[toe]

Originally Posted by Laudaphun

SWIM is assuming you meant the opiods site and not opiates one or is there another website that I'm missing? Anyways, your suggestion led me to discover this on the website SWIM is assuming you meant, it is a an analog of etorphine (the most commonly known bentley compound):

Oh lord, yes. I just checked the "other" site and I am so sorry if I sent you to that awful, awful place.

Other links that may or may not be of use. . .
globalrph.com/index.htm
neurotransmitter.net
pubmed.com

and this thread
http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8856