ML398

ML398
Clinical data
Other namesML-398
Drug classDopamine D4 receptor antagonist
ATC code
  • None
Identifiers
  • (2R)-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-2-(2-phenylethyl)morpholine
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
ChemSpider
ChEMBL
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC19H22ClNO
Molar mass315.84 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • C1CO[C@@H](CN1CC2=CC=C(C=C2)Cl)CCC3=CC=CC=C3
  • InChI=1S/C19H22ClNO/c20-18-9-6-17(7-10-18)14-21-12-13-22-19(15-21)11-8-16-4-2-1-3-5-16/h1-7,9-10,19H,8,11-15H2/t19-/m1/s1
  • Key:CVKXGRRJHJHUFY-LJQANCHMSA-N

ML398 is a potent and selective dopamine D4 receptor antagonist which has been used in scientific research. It shows high affinity for the dopamine D4 receptor (Ki = 36 nM) and negligible affinity for the other four dopamine receptors (>20,000 nM). As such, the drug shows more than 100-fold selectivity for the dopamine D4 receptor over the other dopamine receptors. It has been found to reverse cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion. The chemical synthesis of ML398 has been described. ML398 was first described in the scientific literature by 2014.

References

  1. ↑ "Delving into the Latest Updates on ML-398 with Synapse". Synapse. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Berry CB, Bubser M, Jones CK, Hayes JP, Wepy JA, Locuson CW, et al. (September 2014). "Discovery and Characterization of ML398, a Potent and Selective Antagonist of the D4 Receptor with in Vivo Activity". ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 5 (9): 1060–1064. doi:10.1021/ml500267c. PMC 4160761. PMID 25221667.
  3. 1 2 3 Berry CB, Locuson CW, Daniels JS, Lindsley CW, Hopkins CR (2015). "Discovery and characterization of ML398, a potent and selective chiral morpholine based antagonist of the dopamine 4 (D4) receptor". Probe Reports from the NIH Molecular Libraries Program. PMID 25834901.
  4. ↑ Torres S, Velasco M, Gallegos-Rojas JÁ, Bernès S, Orea ML, Terán JL, et al. (2019). "A Concise Stereoselective Synthesis of ( R )-2-Benzylmorpholine and ML398 from ( R )-(−)-2-Phenylglycinol". Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry. 56 (9): 2677–2682. doi:10.1002/jhet.3657. ISSN 0022-152X.