CBN-C4.Cannabinol butyl

Butyl cannabinol (CBN-C4) is the butyl-chain homologue of cannabinol: the same aromatised benzo[c]chromene skeleton, with no stereocentre, but four side-chain carbons instead of five. Harvey reported it in 1976 in two cannabis samples, by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, together with the butyl homologues of Δ9-THC, its acid and CBD; this identification remains tentative, without isolation. If present, it would form like cannabinol by oxidation of its tetrahydro precursor, tetrahydrocannabutol, which has not been studied. No affinity constant, no screen at other targets and no pharmacokinetic, metabolism or toxicology data were found. In France, its structure falls within the generic class of benzo[c]chromene derivatives created by the ANSM in 2024, from which only CBN and CBNA are excluded by name among the cannabinols.

Source

Cannabis sativa L.: tentative identification only, by GC-MS in two cannabis samples (Harvey 1976), without isolation. If it is indeed present, it would form like cannabinol, an oxidation product of Δ9-THC, from tetrahydrocannabutol; this lineage has not been studied. Origin not established.

No formation pathway has been demonstrated for CBN-C4. By analogy with cannabinol, which results from the oxidation of Δ9-THC and not from a plant enzyme, formation by aromatising oxidation of tetrahydrocannabutol is plausible, but no study has established it.

European Union

Not listed by name in the schedules of the 1961 and 1971 United Nations conventions, according to annexes I to III of the ANSM consolidated list (26/06/2026). Checked on 20/10/2026.

France

CBN-C4 is not named in the ANSM consolidated list (updated 26/06/2026). Its structure does, however, match the generic class added to annex IV of the arrêté of 22 February 1990 by the ANSM decisions of 22/05/2024 and 03/06/2024: a benzo[c]chromene nucleus, which the text covers whether « non ou partiellement ou totalement hydrogéné », with a hydroxyl at position 1, an alkyl chain (here a butyl) at 3, two alkyl groups at 6 and an alkyl at 9. The text's exclusions name CBN and CBNA, as well as THCV and THCVA up to 0.3% and THCA subject to a content condition, but not CBN-C4. On this reading, it has been a controlled narcotic since June 2024; this interpretation should be confirmed by a lawyer. Checked on 20/10/2026.

Sources: EUR-Lex, UNODC, CND, ANSM, IUPHAR/BPS, ChEBI, EUDA. Our method.

Family

Phytocannabinoid › Minor

Presence in the plant

Tentative identification, never isolated

Chemistry

Type CBN · C4 side chain · neutral form

Verification

Every fact on this entry was checked against its primary sources on 20 October 2026.

Wikipedia (English)

No dedicated article.

1. 1Harvey D. J., butyl homologues of Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinol and cannabidiol identified by GC-MS in cannabis samples, J Pharm Pharmacol 1976, 28:280-285 (new tab)PMID 6715
2. 2Radwan M. M. et al., Cannabinoids, Phenolics, Terpenes and Alkaloids of Cannabis, Molecules 2021 (CBN-type cannabinoids) (new tab)PMID 34066753
3. 3GSRS UNII FTN6VE8EZV and PubChem CID 59444392: cannabinol-C4, CAS 60007-99-0 (new tab)
4. 4ANSM, consolidated list of substances classified as narcotics, updated 26/06/2026 (benzo[c]chromene class and its exclusions) (new tab)
5. 5ANSM, decision of 22/05/2024 amending the list of substances classified as narcotics (new tab)

SMILES

CCCCC1=CC(=C2C(=C1)OC(C3=C2C=C(C=C3)C)(C)C)O

Machine-readable entry (JSON)

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