Trimethoxyamphetamines (TMAs) are a family of positionally isomeric psychedelic hallucinogenic drugs. [1] [2] There exist six different TMAs that differ only in the positions of the three methoxy groups: TMA (TMA-1), TMA-2, TMA-3, TMA-4, TMA-5, and TMA-6. [1] [2] The TMAs are substituted amphetamines and are analogues of the phenethylamine cactus alkaloid mescaline and the DOx drugs. [1] [2]
The mechanism of action of the TMAs is different from that of the unsubstituted compound amphetamine, probably involving agonist activity on serotonin receptors such as the 5-HT2A receptors instead of the monoamine releasing agent actions typical of most amphetamines. This action on serotonergic receptors likely underlies the psychedelic effects of these compounds.
TMA was first synthesized by Hey, in 1947. [3] Synthesis data as well as human activity data has been published by Alexander Shulgin in his book PiHKAL . [1] [2]
The most important TMA compound from a pharmacological standpoint is TMA-2, as this isomer has been much more widely used as a recreational drug and sold on the grey market as a so-called research chemical; TMA (sometimes referred to as "mescalamphetamine" or TMA-1) and TMA-6 have also been used in this way to a lesser extent. These three isomers are significantly more active as hallucinogenic drugs, and have consequently been placed onto the illegal drug schedules in some countries such as the Netherlands and Japan. The other three isomers TMA-3, TMA-4, and TMA-5 are not known to have been used as recreational drugs to any great extent. According to Shulgin, at the doses tested, TMA-3 was completely inactive, whereas TMA-4 and TMA-5 were said to produce effects comparable to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). [1]
2,4,6-TMA (TMA-6) is a potent monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitor, with an IC50 of 400 nM. [4] Conversely, 2,4,5-TMA (TMA-2) and 3,4,5-TMA (TMA-1) are inactive as MAO-A inhibitors (IC50 = >100,000 nM). [4] Other 6-substituted amphetamines also tend to be potent MAO-A inhibitors. [4]
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Note: Because they are isomers, the TMAs have the same chemical formula, C12H19NO3, and the same molecular mass, 225.28 g/mol.
Compound | Pattern | Dose | Duration |
---|---|---|---|
TMA | 3,4,5 | 100 – 250 mg | 6 - 8 h |
TMA-2 | 2,4,5 | 20 – 40 mg | 8 - 12 h |
TMA-3 | 2,3,4 | > 100 mg | unknown |
TMA-4 | 2,3,5 | > 80 mg | ~ 6 h |
TMA-5 | 2,3,6 | ≥ 30 mg | 8 - 10 h |
TMA-6 | 2,4,6 | 25 – 50 mg | 12 - 16 h |
It is scheduled in the F2 class (prohibited psychotropics) of the Brazilian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. [5]
Sveriges riksdag added TMA-2 to schedule I ("substances, plant materials and fungi which normally do not have medical use") as narcotics in Sweden as of Dec 30, 1999, published by Medical Products Agency in their regulation LVFS 2004:3 listed as 2,4,5-trimetoxiamfetamin (TMA-2). [6]
Illegal under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
3,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine is listed as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, along with positional isomers 2,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA-2), 2,4,6-Trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA-6) and escaline. [7]
Mescaline, also known as mescalin or mezcalin, and in chemical terms 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine, is a naturally occurring psychedelic protoalkaloid of the substituted phenethylamine class, known for its hallucinogenic effects comparable to those of LSD and psilocybin. It binds to and activates certain serotonin receptors in the brain, producing hallucinogenic effects.
PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story is a book by Alexander Shulgin and Ann Shulgin, published in 1991. The subject of the work is psychoactive phenethylamine chemical derivatives, notably those that act as psychedelics and/or empathogen-entactogens. The main title, PiHKAL, is an acronym that stands for "Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved".
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine is a psychedelic and a substituted amphetamine. It was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin, and later reported in his book PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story. DOM is classified as a Schedule I substance in the United States, and is similarly controlled in other parts of the world. Internationally, it is a Schedule I drug under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances. It is generally taken orally.
Dimethoxybromoamphetamine (DOB), also known as brolamfetamine and bromo-DMA, is a psychedelic drug and substituted amphetamine of the phenethylamine class of compounds. DOB was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin in 1967. Its synthesis and effects are documented in Shulgin's book PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story.
Escaline (3,5-methoxy-4-ethoxyphenethylamine) is a psychedelic drug and entheogen of the phenethylamine class of compounds. Escaline was first synthesized and reported in the scientific literature by Benington, et al., in 1954, but was later re-examined in the laboratory of David E. Nichols, who prepared a series of mescaline analogues that included escaline, proscaline, and isoproscaline. The effects of this and related mescaline analogues in humans were first described by Alexander Shulgin. In his book PiHKAL , Shulgin lists the dosage range as 40 to 60 mg of hydrochloride salt, consumed orally. The duration of action was stated to be 8–12 hours.
2,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine (2,4,5-TMA), also known as TMA-2 or as 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methoxyamphetamine (DOMeO), is a psychedelic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine families. It is one of the trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA) series of positional isomers. The drug is also notable in being the 4-methoxylated member of the DOx series of drugs.
Trimethoxyamphetamine, also known as 3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine (3,4,5-TMA), α-methylmescaline, or mescalamphetamine, is a psychedelic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine families. It is one of the trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA) series of positional isomers. The drug is notable in being the amphetamine analogue of mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine).
2C-G is a psychedelic phenethylamine of the 2C-series. First synthesized by Alexander Shulgin, it is sometimes used as an entheogen. It has structural and pharmacodynamic properties similar to 2C-D and Ganesha. Like many of the phenethylamines in PiHKAL, 2C-G and its homologs have only been taken by Shulgin and a small test group, making it difficult to ensure completeness when describing effects.
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine (DOC) is a psychedelic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine chemical classes. It was presumably first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin, and was described in his book PiHKAL.
2C-T is a psychedelic and hallucinogenic drug of the 2C family. It is used by some as an entheogen. It has structural and pharmacodynamic properties similar to the drugs mescaline and 2C-T-2.
2,4,5-Trimethoxyphenethylamine or is a phenethylamine of the 2C family and was first synthesized by Jansen in 1931. It is a positional isomer of the drug mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxy).
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine is a psychedelic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine chemical classes. It was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin, and was described in his book PiHKAL.
2C (2C-x) is a general name for the family of psychedelic phenethylamines containing methoxy groups on the 2 and 5 positions of a benzene ring. Most of these compounds also carry lipophilic substituents at the 4 position, usually resulting in more potent and more metabolically stable and longer acting compounds.
Aleph is a psychedelic hallucinogenic drug and a substituted amphetamine of the phenethylamine class of compounds, which can be used as an entheogen. It was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin, who named it after the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In his book PiHKAL, Shulgin lists the dosage range as 5–10 mg, with effects typically lasting for 6 to 8 hours.
BOM (3,4,5,beta-tetramethoxyphenethylamine) is a lesser-known psychedelic drug. It is the beta-methoxy derivative of mescaline. BOM was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. In his book PiHKAL, the minimum dosage is listed as 200 mg, and the duration unknown. BOM produces few to no effects. Very little data exists about its pharmacological properties, metabolism, and toxicity.
3,4-Dimethoxyphenethylamine (DMPEA) is a chemical compound of the phenethylamine class. It is an analogue of the major human neurotransmitter dopamine where the 3- and 4-position hydroxy groups have been replaced with methoxy groups. It is also closely related to mescaline which is 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine.
Dimethoxyamphetamine (DMA) is a series of six lesser-known psychedelic drugs similar in structure to the three isomers of methoxyamphetamine and six isomers of trimethoxyamphetamine. The isomers are 2,3-DMA, 2,4-DMA, 2,5-DMA, 2,6-DMA, 3,4-DMA, and 3,5-DMA. Three of the isomers were characterized by Alexander Shulgin in his book PiHKAL. Little is known about their dangers or toxicity.
Trimethoxyphenethylamines (TMPEA) are a group of positional isomers of the psychedelic cactus alkaloid mescaline. Some of them are described in the book PiHKAL by Alexander Shulgin and Ann Shulgin.
Substituted phenethylamines are a chemical class of organic compounds that are based upon the phenethylamine structure; the class is composed of all the derivative compounds of phenethylamine which can be formed by replacing, or substituting, one or more hydrogen atoms in the phenethylamine core structure with substituents. Phenylethylamines are also generally found to be central nervous system stimulants with many also being entactogens/empathogens, and hallucinogens.
2,5-Dimethoxyamphetamine (2,5-DMA), also known as DMA-4 or as DOH, is a drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine families. It is one of the dimethoxyamphetamine (DMA) series of positional isomers. The drug is notable in being the parent compound of the DOx (4-substituted-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine) series of drugs.