Dissociative anesthetics structure

Psychotomimetic Drugs. Figure 2 Chemical structures of the dissociative anesthetics phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine. Both are arylcycloalkylamine derivatives that are open channel blockers of the NMDA channel. 

In this chapter, the voltammetric study of local anesthetics (procaine and related compounds) [14—16], antihistamines (doxylamine and related compounds) [17,22], and uncouplers (2,4-dinitrophenol and related compounds) [18] at nitrobenzene (NB]Uwater (W) and 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE)-water (W) interfaces is discussed. Potential step voltammetry (chronoamperometry) or normal pulse voltammetry (NPV) and potential sweep voltammetry or cyclic voltammetry (CV) have been employed. Theoretical equations of the half-wave potential vs. pH diagram are derived and applied to interpret the midpoint potential or half-wave potential vs. pH plots to evaluate physicochemical properties, including the partition coefficients and dissociation constants of the drugs. Voltammetric study of the kinetics of protonation of base (procaine) in aqueous solution is also discussed. Finally, application to structure-activity relationship and mode of action study will be discussed briefly. 

PCP and ketamine share common structural features (Figures 34-43 and 34-44) and possess similar pharmacological actions. They are classified as dissociative anesthetics because they cause functional dissociation of pain perception, consciousness, movement, and memory. Thus an anesthetic dose produces profound analgesia, but the indi-... 

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