RTI-386

RTI-386 is a psychoactive drug and research chemical that was developed in the 1990s by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI). It is part of a series of compounds known as the RTI compounds, which were designed to study the dopamine transporter and its role in neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and drug addiction.

Chemistry

RTI-386 is a tropane derivative, which is a class of compounds that includes natural substances like cocaine and synthetic drugs like benztropine. It is specifically a phenyltropane, meaning it has a phenyl group attached to the tropane ring. The chemical structure of RTI-386 is similar to that of cocaine, but with a few key differences that significantly alter its pharmacological properties.

Pharmacology

The primary action of RTI-386 is to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine by blocking the dopamine transporter. This increases the amount of dopamine available in the synapse, which can lead to increased stimulation of dopamine receptors. However, unlike cocaine, RTI-386 has a much higher selectivity for the dopamine transporter over the norepinephrine transporter and serotonin transporter, making it a more useful tool for studying the dopamine system.

Research Use

RTI-386 has been used in scientific research to help understand the role of the dopamine transporter in various neurological and psychiatric disorders. It has been particularly useful in studies of drug addiction, as it can be used to model the effects of drugs like cocaine on the dopamine system. However, it is not used in clinical practice due to its potential for abuse and lack of therapeutic applications.

See Also

• RTI-55
• RTI-113
• RTI-177