Pharma & Specialty Chemical Standards

Fentanyl, IUPAC name 1-(2-phenethyl)-4-(propyl)piperidine, is a synthetic opioid with molecular formula C22H28N2O and molecular weight 336.47 g/mol. Structurally, it features a piperidine core substituted with a phenethyl group and a propyl chain, classifying it as a piperidine-based opioid. Therapeutically, it is used for severe pain management, including postoperative and cancer-related pain. Its high lipophilicity (logP ~3.3) and low molecular weight facilitate rapid blood-brain barrier penetration. Mechanistically, Fentanyl acts as a mu-opioid receptor agonist, modulating GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission by enhancing inhibitory signaling and reducing pain perception via central nervous system depression.