PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story is a book by Dr. 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."
3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine is an empathogen-entactogen, psychostimulant, and psychedelic drug of the amphetamine family that is encountered mainly as a recreational drug. In its pharmacology, MDA is a serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA). In most countries, the drug is a controlled substance and its possession and sale are illegal.
2C-N (2,5-dimethoxy-4-nitrophenethylamine) is a psychedelic phenethylamine of the 2C family. It was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin.
1,3-Benzodioxolyl-N-methylbutanamine (N-methyl-1,3-benzodioxolylbutanamine, MBDB, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methyl-α-ethylphenylethylamine) is an entactogen of the phenethylamine chemical class. It is known by the street names Eden and Methyl-J. MBDB is a ring substituted amphetamine and an analogue of MDMA. Like MDMA, it has a methylene dioxy substitution at the 3 and 4 position on the aromatic ring; this is perhaps the most distinctive feature that structurally define analogues of MDMA, in addition to their unique effects, and as a class they are often referred to as "entactogens" to differentiate between typical psychostimulant amphetamines that (as a general rule) are not ring substituted. MBDB differs from MDMA by having an ethyl group instead of a methyl group attached to the alpha carbon; all other parts are identical. Modification at the alpha carbon is uncommon for substituted amphetamines. It has IC50 values of 784 nM against 5-HT, 7825 nM against dopamine, and 1233 nM against norepinephrine. Its metabolism has been described in scientific literature.
Lophophine is a putative psychedelic and entactogen drug of the methylenedioxyphenethylamine class. It is the α-demethylated homologue of MMDA, and is also closely related to mescaline.
MMDA is a psychedelic and entactogen drug of the amphetamine class. It is an analogue of lophophine, MDA, and MDMA.
3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-hydroxyamphetamine is an entactogen, psychedelic, and stimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine chemical classes. It is the N-hydroxy homologue of MDA, and the N-desmethyl homologue of MDHMA. MDOH was first synthesized and assayed by Alexander Shulgin. In his book PiHKAL, Shulgin listed the dosage range as 100–160 mg, and the duration as approximately 3–6 hours. He describes MDOH as being very psychedelic and producing increased pleasure in beauty and nature. He also mentioned several negative side effects also seen with MDMA ("Ecstasy") such as difficulty urinating and internal dryness.
3,4-Ethylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (EDMA) is an entactogen drug of the methamphetamine class. It is an analogue of MDMA where the methylenedioxy ring has been replaced by an ethylenedioxy ring. EDMA was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. In his book PiHKAL, the dosage is listed as 150–250 mg, and the duration listed as 3–5 hours. According to Shulgin, EDMA produces a bare threshold consisting of paresthesia, nystagmus, and hypnogogic imagery, with few to no other effects. Scientific research has demonstrated that EDMA acts as a non-neurotoxic serotonin releasing agent with moderately diminished potency relative to MDMA, and with negligible effects on dopamine release.
TOMSO (2-methoxy-4-methyl-5-methylsulfinylamphetamine) is a lesser-known psychedelic drug and a substituted amphetamine. TOMSO was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. In his book PiHKAL, the dosage range is listed as 100–150 mg, and the duration listed as 10–16 hours. TOMSO is inactive on its own; it is activated with the consumption of alcohol. It produces intense time distortion and a threshold. Very little data exists about the pharmacological properties, metabolism, and toxicity of TOMSO.
3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-hydroxy-N-methylamphetamine is an entactogen, psychedelic, and stimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine chemical classes. It is the N-hydroxy homologue of MDMA ("Ecstasy"), and the N-methyl homologue of MDOH. MDHMA was first synthesized and assayed by Alexander Shulgin. In his book PiHKAL, Shulgin listed the dosage range as 100–160 mg, and the duration as approximately 4–8 hours. He describes MDHMA as causing entactogenic and open MDMA-like effects, easing communication, and increasing appreciation of the senses.
BOD (4-methyl-2,5,β-trimethoxyphenethylamine) is a lesser-known psychedelic drug. It is the beta-methoxy analog of 2C-D and was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. In his book PiHKAL, the dosage range is listed as 15–25 mg with a duration of 8–16 hours. Its reported effects include mild open-eye and moderate closed-eye alterations in visual perception, enhancement of conversation and sense of humor, and unpleasant physical effects such as nausea and lethargy. Very little data exists about the pharmacological properties, metabolism, and toxicity of BOD.
BOH, also known as 3,4-methylenedioxy-β-methoxyphenethylamine, is a drug of the phenethylamine class. It is the β-methoxy analog of methylenedioxyphenethylamine (MDPEA) and is also more distantly related to methylone. On account of its similarity to norepinephrine, the effects of BOH may be of a purely adrenergic nature.
2-Bromo-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine (6-Bromo-MDA) is a lesser-known psychedelic drug and a substituted amphetamine. It was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. In his book PiHKAL, the dose is listed as 350 mg and the duration unknown. It produces stimulant effects but with no psychedelic or empathogenic action. Very little data exists about its pharmacological properties, metabolism, and toxicity.
1,3-Benzodioxolylbutanamine is an entactogenic drug of the phenethylamine chemical class. It is the α-ethyl analog of MDPEA and MDA and the methylenedioxy analogue of α-ethylphenethylamine.
MADAM-6, or 2, N-dimethyl-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine, is a lesser-known recreational drug of the methamphetamine class, similar in structure to MDMA (ecstasy). MADAM-6 was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. In Shulgin's book PiHKAL, the minimum dosage is listed as greater than 280 mg, and the duration is unknown. MADAM-6 produces few to no effects and Shulgin describes it as "not active". Very little data exists about the pharmacological properties, metabolism, and toxicity of MADAM-6.
F-2, or 6-(2-aminopropyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, is a lesser-known psychedelic drug. F-2 was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. In his book PiHKAL, the minimum dosage is listed as 15 mg, and the duration unknown. F-2 produces few to no effects at this dose in humans. Animal studies showed it to substitute for the psychedelic drug DOM, but with less than one tenth the potency.
MMDA-2 (2-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine) is a psychedelic drug of the amphetamine class. It is closely related to MMDA and MDA.
MDCPM, or 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-cyclopropylmethylamphetamine, is a lesser-known psychedelic drug. It is the N-cyclopropylmethyl derivative of MDMA. MDCPM was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin; it is also one of the compounds delineated in a patent by Horrom in 1972. In his book PiHKAL , the minimum dosage is listed as 10 mg, and the duration unknown. MDCPM produces few to no effects. Very little data exists about the pharmacological properties, metabolism, and toxicity of MDCPM.
3,4-Methylenedioxy-N,N-dimethylamphetamine (MDDM) is a lesser-known research chemical. It is also the N,N-dimethyl analog of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA). MDDM was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin. In his book PiHKAL , the dosage is unspecified and the duration unknown. MDDM produces only mild effects that are not well characterized in PiHKAL. Very little data exists about the pharmacological properties, metabolism, and toxicity of MDDM. This compound is however occasionally encountered as an impurity in 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) which has been synthesized by methylation of MDA using methylating reagents such as methyl iodide. An excess of reagent or a reaction temperature that is too high results in some double methylation of the amine nitrogen, yielding MDDM as well as MDMA. The presence of MDDM as an impurity can thus reveal which synthetic route was used to manufacture seized samples of MDMA.
4-MeO-MiPT, or 4-methoxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine, is a lesser-known psychedelic drug. It is the 4-methoxy analog of MiPT. 4-MeO-MiPT was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin and is mentioned in his book TiHKAL. Subsequent testing by Shulgin on human test subjects showed the effective dose as 20-30 mg ; the onset time between ingestion and the first noticeable effects was 45-60 min, with sensations lasting between 2-2.5 hours. The sensation were significantly milder than those of 4-HO-MiPT, with 4-MeO-MiPT producing erotic-enhancing effects, and few of the visuals common with tryptamines. Very little data exists about the pharmacological properties, metabolism, and toxicity of 4-MeO-MiPT.
