JWH-138 (THC-Octyl, Δ8-THC-C8) is a synthetic cannabinoid first synthesized by Roger Adams and studied heavily by John W. Huffman, with a Ki of 8.5nM at the CB1cannabinoid receptor.[1] THC-Octyl and its hydrogenated analog HHC-Octyl was synthesized and studied by Roger Adams as early as 1942.[2]
The Δ3/Δ6a(10a) isomer was synthesised in 1941, but was found to be slightly less active than Δ3-THC itself.[3] The alternate isomer Δ9-THC-C8 has also been synthesised,[4] and both the Δ8 and Δ9 isomers are included within the definition of an "intoxicating cannabinoid" in Colorado under the name tetrahydrocannabioctyl,[5] but it is unclear if it has been identified as a natural product. Tetrahydrocannabioctyl is sometimes referred to as THC-Octyl or THC-O, which may cause confusion with THC-O-acetate which is commonly known as THC-O on packaging for grey marketvaping liquids sold for use in humans.
^Martin BR, Jefferson R, Winckler R, Wiley JL, Huffman JW, Crocker PJ, et al. (September 1999). "Manipulation of the tetrahydrocannabinol side chain delineates agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 290 (3): 1065–1079. PMID10454479.
^Adams R, Loewe S, Smith CM, McPhee WD (1942). "Tetrahydrocannabinol Homologs and Analogs with Marihuana Activity. XIII1". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 64 (3): 694–697. doi:10.1021/ja01255a061.
^Adams R, Loewe S, Jelinek C, Wolff H (July 1941). "Tetrahydrocannabinol Homologs with Marihuana Activity. IX". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 63 (7): 1971–1973. doi:10.1021/ja01852a052.
^WO application 2020232545, Abdur-Rashid K, Jia W, Abdur-Rashid K, "Catalytic cannabinoid processes and precursors", published 2020-11-26, assigned to Kare Chemical Technologies Inc..
