Structure–activity studies of 4-substituted-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamines
led to the discovery of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-thiotrifluoromethylphenethylamines,
including CYB210010, a potent and long-acting serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonist. CYB210010 exhibited high agonist potency at 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors, modest selectivity over
5-HT2B, 5-HT1A, 5-HT6, and adrenergic
α2A receptors, and lacked activity at monoamine transporters
and over 70 other proteins. CYB210010 (0.1–3 mg/kg) elicited
a head-twitch response (HTR) and could be administered subchronically
at threshold doses without behavioral tolerance. CYB210010 was orally
bioavailable in three species, readily and preferentially crossed
into the CNS, engaged frontal cortex 5-HT2A receptors,
and increased the expression of genes involved in neuroplasticity
in the frontal cortex. CYB210010 represents a new tool molecule for
investigating the therapeutic potential of 5-HT2 receptor
activation. In addition, several other compounds with high 5-HT2A receptor potency, yet with little or no HTR activity, were
discovered, providing the groundwork for the development of nonpsychedelic
5-HT2A receptor ligands.