Stereoisomers of N-allylnormetazocine: phencyclidine-like behavioral effects in squirrel monkeys and rats

(+/-)-N-Allylnormetazocine is a benzomorphan opioid with psychotomimetic effects. The pure stereoisomers of this compound, as well as the racemic mixture, were compared to phencyclidine for their behavioral effects on squirrel monkeys and rats trained to discriminate phencyclidine from saline. Dose-response determinations were made for responses to phencyclidine, to a racemic mixture of N-allylnormetazocine, and to the pure levo and dextro isomers of N-allylnormetazocine. In both rats and monkeys, the dextro isomer and the racemic mixture produced dose-dependent responses appropriate for phencyclidine; the levo isomer did not produce the responses appropriate for phencyclidine at any of the doses tested. In both species, the levo isomer was more potent than the dextro isomer in decreasing the rate of responding. Thus racemic N-allylnormetazocine is a mixture of compounds that produce different behavioral effects.