2-Chloro-2-phenylethylamine, also known as β-chlorophenethylamine, is an irreversible inhibitor or suicidal inhibitor of the enzyme dopamine-beta-monooxygenase, a derivative of phenylethylamine in which the hydrogen atom in the β-position of the ethyl chain is replaced by a chlorine atom. This is a substituted phenylethylamine, does not exhibit pronounced psychoactivity.
It is a related compound to N,N-dimethyl-2-chloro-2-phenylethylamine (DMEA), a precursor in organic synthesis.
Pharmacology
Inhibition of dopamine β-hydroxylase 2-Chloro-2-phenylethylamine is a suicide inhibitor of dopamine β-hydroxylase, which irreversibly inactivates them via covalent modification of the active site: a bound alpha-aminoacetophenone is formed, followed by an intramolecular redox reaction to form a ketone-derived radical cation as an inhibitory substance.
See also N,N-Dimethyl-2-chloro-2-phenylethylamine
References