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​NPS Snapshot: Designer Benzodiazepines

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​Approved benzodiazepines are an important class of medications when used as prescribed by a physician. However, unapproved use of prescription benzodiazepines and the introduction of designer versions that have not been approved for human use has created a public health danger. This NPS Snapshot summarizes the structures of benzodiazepine-related NPS, common designer benzodiazepine scaffolds and site modifications, and the historical context of benzodiazepine pharmaceuticals.

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To cite this NPS snapshot: Iula, D.M. and Hering, K.W. NPS snapshot: Designer benzodiazepines. Cayman Chemical (October 2026).

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nps snapshot designer benzodiazepines

​Orphines Naming Guide

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Updated September 2026

A new subclass of synthetic opioids known as benzimidazol-2-ones (or more commonly “orphines”) represents a complex and rapidly emerging subclass of dangerous NPS. The first orphine to circulate on the illicit drug market was Brorphine. As analogues of this substance emerged, so did the need for forensic stakeholders to quickly discuss these drugs and issue alerts in a straightforward manner. 

Teams from Cayman Chemical’s Forensic Chemistry Division and the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) NPS Discovery group, at the forefront of NPS identification, worked together to establish a standardized naming framework for existing orphines and future analogues. Read more to understand the logic behind the names “N-Propionitrile Chlorphine” and “5,6-Dichloro Desmethylchlorphine.”

Suggested Citation: Denn MT, Stang BN, Layle N, St. Germaine D, Iula DM, Krotulski, AJ. (2026) Orphines Naming Guide, 
Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, United States.
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​NPS Snapshot: Kratom-Derived Semi-Synthetic Opioids

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Updated July 2026

A growing wave of consumer products labeled as ‘kratom’, ‘7-hydroxy mitragynine’, or ‘7-OH’—which contain potent semi-synthetic opioids—marks the emergence of a new class of kratom-derived NPS. Since 2024, new kratom-related products containing 7-hydroxy mitragynine and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl have entered the market, often disguised as natural supplements. Though structurally distinct from traditional opioids, these compounds can mimic opioid effects and are frequently misrepresented in labeling. This NPS Snapshot summarizes the structures of potent kratom-related NPS, mitragynine conversion pathways, and the historical context of natural kratom alkaloids.

View All Kratom Alkaloids & Semi-Synthetics

To cite this NPS snapshot: Iula, D.M. ​NPS snapshot: kratom-derived semi-synthetic opioids. Cayman Chemical (October 2025).

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​NPS Snapshot: Orphines

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A new wave of synthetic opioids, distinct from fentanyls and nitazenes, is emerging in forensic samples. Also known as piperidinylbenzimidazolones, these novel synthetic opioids now referred to as orphines were initially developed for their anesthetic and antitussive properties. This NPS Snapshot summarizes the structures of orphine-related NPS, naming conventions, as well as key historical dates and known pharmacology.

To cite this NPS snapshot: Iula, D.M., St. Germaine, D.M., and Layle, N.K. NPS snapshot: orphines. Cayman Chemical (September 2025).
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​NPS Snapshot: Semi-synthetic Cannabinoids

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Semi-synthetic cannabinoids rapidly emerged in the United States in response to legislative reforms that loosened Cannabis restrictions. Often marketed as “legal” alternatives to Δ9-THC, semi-synthetic cannabinoids have been widely sought after for both medicinal and recreational purposes. This NPS Snapshot summarizes the structures of the various semi-synthetic cannabinoids as well as key historical dates and known pharmacology.

To cite this NPS snapshot: Williams, J.B. and Hering, K.W. ​NPS snapshot: semi-synthetic cannabinoids. Cayman Chemical (April 2025).
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Standardized Naming System for Cinnamylpiperazines

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Cinnamylpiperazines are an emerging class of synthetic opioids based on the AP-237 scaffold. To prepare for the potential emergence of AP-237 analogs, Cayman's scientists have standardized a naming convention for cinnamylpiperazines that is easy to use and adaptable to future analogs.
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​New Systematic Naming for Synthetic Cannabinoid “MDA-19” and Its Related Analogues: BZO-HEXOXIZID, 5F-BZO-POXIZID, and BZO-POXIZID

Guides


Cayman Chemical and NPS Discovery at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) have developed new, more appropriate names to address the newly emergent “MDA-19” and its related analogs following the systematic convention typically used for synthetic cannabinoid nomenclature. Our scientists developed a new naming convention for the emerging “OXIZID” generation of synthetic cannabinoids. “OXIZID” represents the core/linker region of the synthetic cannabinoid structure. Like other synthetic cannabinoids, head and tail constituents are abbreviated following previously developed or understood schemes.
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Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology

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Cayman Chemical has become a leader in the field of designer drugs by providing high-purity reference standards to federally licensed laboratories and qualified academic research institutions for forensic analysis. Learn more about our analytical reference standards, tools and resources, and services available for the forensic community.

​DEA 222 Form Instructions for Schedule I & II Substances

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A DEA Form 222 is necessary for the purchase of Schedule I or II controlled substances. We have provided step-by-step instructions to prepare and mail your DEA form 222 to Cayman Chemical.




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​NPS Snapshot: Nitazenes

Guides


Updated October 2025

Nitazenes are one of several types of novel analgesics developed in the 20th century as potential alternatives to traditional opiates. Since first appearing on the illicit market in 2018, several novel 2-benzylbenzimidazole opioids have emerged as novel psychoactive substances (NPS). These compounds are structurally different from fentanyl and most are not well characterized, but some have been reported to cause physiological effects similar to heroin, fentanyl, and other opioids. Dozens of nitazene analogs have now been identified in circulation across the world, further complicating efforts to monitor and understand their pharmacological profiles. This NPS Snapshot summarizes structures of various nitazene compounds as well as key historical dates, prototypical structure, and known pharmacology.

Learn more in our recent webinar: Making a splash: Nitazenes and Orphines, the latest wave of opioid NPS.

To cite this NPS snapshot: Iula, D.M., St. Germaine, D.M., and Layle, N.K. NPS snapshot: nitazenes. Cayman Chemical (September 2020).

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Certified Reference Materials for the Cannabis Industry: Solving the Production Puzzle

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​As more analytical laboratories involved in Cannabis testing fall under regulatory and/or accreditation requirements, they are expected to utilize CRMs when available. This article outlines several production steps Cayman considers when creating a CRM to address questions frequently heard from our customers about how compounds are selected to be made into CRMs and how long it takes to produce them. 

This article was first published in the July/August issue of Terpenes and Testing.

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​Improved Potency Testing

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​Want to streamline your Cannabis potency testing and cannabinoid profiling? Watch how different reference standard preparation methods stack up and see why testing labs are implementing Cayman’s pre-made, multi-component CRM mixtures into their workflows. Cayman offers a suite of CRM mixtures for mass spectrometry applications. The Phytocannabinoid 10 Mixture (CRM) featured in this video contains ten phytocannabinoids prevalent in Cannabis.

Access the data in our application note: CRM Mixtures Improve Quantitation Accuracy.

​​Export/Import of Controlled Substances Overseas

Guides


​Delivery time of controlled reference materials requires the careful navigation of governmental agencies of both the country of origin and country of import. Several processes are in place to document the transfer of goods and additional steps are needed if the compound is recognized as an internationally or locally controlled substance. Review the procedures and estimated timeline for the export/import of controlled substances.

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​Supplemental Material: Differentiation of Isobaric and Isomeric Fentanyl Analogs by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

Guides


​Fentanyl (hydrochloride) (CRM) and all fentanyl analogs (provided as neat materials) used in the study are Cayman products. Single component solutions for each fentanyl analog were prepared by dissolving 1 mg of neat material in 1 ml of HPLC-grade methanol (EMD Millipore). Twenty multicomponent mixtures were prepared by transferring 200 μl aliquots of each single component solution with a 200 μl aliquot of internal standard into a vial and dried under nitrogen. The multicomponent mixtures were reconstituted with 200 μl of methanol for a final nominal concentration of 1.0 mg/ml per component. The multicomponent solutions were transferred to autosampler vials with insert prior to injection. The 20 multicomponent mixtures were used in the GC separation study.

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​Standardized Naming of Substituted Fentanyls

Guides


The basic fentanyl scaffold can be modified in four different regions leading to a myriad of new fentanyl varieties. Naming these substituted fentanyls has been inconsistent, causing confusion and leading to miscommunication in the forensic and toxicology communities. Cayman’s scientists standardized a fentanyl naming convention to help provide a more unambiguous way to describe substituent placement on the fentanyl scaffold.

To cite this naming system: Iula, D.M. Standardized Naming of Substituted Fentanyls. Article, Cayman Chemical (2018).
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 Results