Ketamine—From an Anesthetic to a Psychiatric Drug: Mechanisms of Action …

Then in 1962, ketamine (2- (2-chlorophenyl)-2- (methylamino)cyclohexanone) was obtained by Professor Calvin Lee Stevens. One of the numerous derivatives of arylcyclohexylamine, ketamine showed unique anesthetic properties, combined with analgesic and amnestic effects and a short duration of action, making it a promising anesthetic drug [1].

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12251107/