RESEARCH MONOGRAPH · KDC-MN-051
Sunifiram
Sunifiram is a small molecule developed in Italy as a cognitive enhancer. It positively modulates AMPA glutamate receptors and produces nootropic effects in animal studies at very low doses (sub-milligram range). Not stocked by Kodiac. This monograph is provided for research and educational reference.
Intrigue 0–100 blends mechanism novelty, evidence strength, and translational potential. Kodiac editorial, not peer-reviewed.
Piperazine-derived AMPA modulator
A piperazine-derived ampakine compound originally synthesized at Università degli Studi di Firenze, characterized by potent cognitive enhancement in rodent models at low doses.
Abstract
Sunifiram (DM-235; 1-(4-benzoyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propan-1-one; CAS 314728-85-3; molecular formula C14H18N2O2; molecular weight 246.30) is a piperazine-derived compound first characterized at the University of Florence in the early 2000s. Despite the colloquial categorization with the racetam class (and frequent appearance under the "ampakine" label in research-chemical literature), sunifiram is structurally distinct from both classes. The compound shows substantial potency in rodent passive avoidance, water maze, and social recognition memory tasks at oral doses 1000-fold lower than equivalent piracetam doses (effective doses approximately 0.1 mg/kg in rodents). Mechanism is incompletely characterized; published work suggests positive modulation of AMPA receptor currents, possibly through a binding site distinct from the cyclothiazide site, plus modest glycine site facilitation at NMDA receptors. The compound has not been advanced to human clinical trials. There is no Phase 1 safety record, no human pharmacokinetic data, and no formal toxicology beyond the rodent studies. Sunifiram is sold as a research chemical in jurisdictions where it is not specifically scheduled. Reported research dose ranges in the literature are typically cited as 5 to 10 mg, scaled from rodent studies, but this scaling has not been validated.
Mechanism of action
Positive modulation of AMPA receptor currents, possibly through a novel binding site. Modest NMDA glycine site facilitation. Incompletely characterized.
Reported research dose ranges
Reported research dose ranges in the literature span 5 to 10 mg (unvalidated, scaled from rodent studies).
References
- Galeotti N, et al. Anti-amnesic and cognitive effects of DM-235. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2003.
- Romanelli MN, et al. Sunifiram: design, synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation. Bioorg Med Chem 2005.
Read the full monograph
The full reference document covers compound identification, discovery and developmental history, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, reported research dose ranges, sourcing and quality verification, reconstitution and handling, stack interaction considerations, and a curated reference list. Available as a research-use-only PDF download.
The full reference document is provided strictly for research use only. It reports research dose ranges from the published literature, not instructions for use in humans or animals.
FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. Not for medical, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes. Not for human consumption. All information is provided for research and educational purposes only.