SH 053 R CH3 2′F

SH-053-R-CH3-2′F is a drug used in scientific research which is a benzodiazepine derivative. It produces some of the same effects as other benzodiazepines, but is much more subtype-selective than most other drugs of this class, having high selectivity, binding affinity and efficacy at the α₅ subtype of the GABA_A receptor. This gives much tighter control of the effects produced, and so while SH-053-R-CH3-2′F retains sedative and anxiolytic effects, it does not cause ataxia at moderate doses. SH-053-R-CH3-2′F also blocks the nootropic effects of the α₅-selective inverse agonist PWZ-029, so amnesia is also a likely side effect.

Replacement of the ester function by an amide, realized in the analog MP-III-022, improves selectivity, efficacy and kinetic behavior.