JWH-167

JWH-167 is an experimental synthetic cannabinoid in the phenylacetylindole family. It was developed during structure–activity research on indole-based cannabinoid ligands and differs from naphthoylindoles such as JWH-018 by replacing the naphthoyl group with a phenylacetyl group. Published data show measurable CB₁ receptor affinity, although it is weaker than that of several better-known JWH compounds. Human use and clinical effects are not well documented.

Chemistry and classification

JWH-167 is 1-pentyl-3-(2-phenylacetyl)indole. It retains the N-pentylindole portion common to several early synthetic cannabinoids, but the carbonyl-linked aromatic group is a phenylacetyl substituent rather than a naphthoyl group. This places it in the phenylacetylindole subgroup.

The UNODC technical update on synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists describes JWH-167 as an early phenylacetylindole analogue developed to explore the contribution of the naphthalene ring to CB₁ binding (UNODC technical update on NPS, 2024).

Pharmacology

JWH-167 has a reported CB₁ binding Ki of approximately 64 nM in the early structure–activity data. This is around an order of magnitude weaker than the value reported for JWH-018 in the same research series. The comparison illustrates how replacing the naphthoyl group with a simpler phenylacetyl group reduces receptor affinity (ACMD report on major cannabinoid agonists).

A later review of first-generation synthetic cannabinoids found measurable binding at CB₁ and CB₂ for JWH-167, with greater affinity for CB₁ in the assay used. Its binding was weaker than that of JWH-018, JWH-073 and JWH-210 (Evaluation of first-generation synthetic cannabinoids, 2016).

Reported effects

Reliable human information is too limited to establish a characteristic JWH-167 experience. The available literature focuses on receptor binding and chemical structure rather than clinical intoxication or controlled subjective effects.

Its cannabinoid receptor affinity suggests that it may have cannabimimetic activity, but effects reported for JWH-018 or other naphthoylindoles should not be transferred directly to JWH-167.

Toxicity and research limitations

The sources reviewed here yielded no detailed human case series, human metabolism study or toxicological assessment specific to the compound. Its acute toxic range, metabolism, dependence potential and long-term effects remain uncertain.

JWH-167 is best understood as a research compound from the early structure–activity studies of synthetic cannabinoids. Its measured receptor affinity establishes biological activity, but does not provide a clinical safety profile or prove widespread recreational use.

Related compounds

JWH-167 is related to JWH-203 and JWH-250, which are also phenylacetylindoles. It is structurally distinct from the naphthoylindole compounds JWH-018 and JWH-073.