3,4-Dimethoxyphenethylamine (DMPEA or 3,4-DMPEA), also known as homoveratrylamine or O,O-dimethyldopamine, is a chemical compound of the phenethylamine family.[1] It is an analogue of the major human neurotransmitter dopamine where the 3- and 4-position hydroxy groups have been replaced with methoxy groups.[1] It is also closely related to mescaline which is 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine and to 3,4-dimethoxyamphetamine (3,4-DMA).[1]
Use and effects
According to Alexander Shulgin in his book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved) and other publications, DMPEA is inactive in humans at doses of up to 1,000 mg orally and at a dose of 10 mg intravenously.[2]
Interactions
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
DMPEA shows weak affinity for serotonin receptors.[3] It induces the head-twitch response, a behavioral proxy of serotonergic psychedelic effects, in rodents.[4] DMPEA has some activity as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor.[5]
Pharmacokinetics
The elimination half-life of DMPEA is said to be less than 1 hour, indicating rapid and extensive metabolism and inactivation.[6][7]
Chemistry
Synthesis
One of the earliest syntheses of DMPEA (then referred to as "homoveratrylamine") was that of Pictet and Finkelstein, who made it in a multi-step sequence starting from vanillin.[8] A similar sequence was subsequently reported by Buck and Perkin,[9] as follows:
- 3,4-Dimethoxybenzaldehyde (veratraldehyde) → 3,4-Dimethoxycinnamic acid → 3,4-Dimethoxyphenylpropionic acid → 3,4-Dimethoxyphenylpropionamide → 3,4-Dimethoxyphenethylamine
A much shorter synthesis is given by Shulgin and Shulgin.[1]
Derivatives
Identified uses for DMPEA includes the following list of agents:
1. Bevantolol.
2. Bisobrin
3. Bometolol
4. Buquiterine
5. Denopamine
6. Dobutamine
7. Dopamine
8. Dopexamine
9. Dramedilol
10. Drotaverine
11. Ecastolol
12. Falipamil
13. Gallopamil
14. Methopholine
15. Mixidine
16. Mefeclorazine
17. Nigellimine [4594-02-9][10]
18. Nuciferine
19. Papaverine
20. Tetrabenazine
21. Tiapamil
22. Trimethoquinol
23. Veradoline
24. Verapamil.
Natural occurrence
DMPEA occurs naturally along with mescaline in various species of cacti such as San Pedro and Peruvian Torch.[11][12][13]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Shulgin, Alexander; Shulgin, Ann (September 1991). PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story. Berkeley, California: Transform Press. ISBN 0-9630096-0-5. OCLC 25627628. http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/pihkal/pihkal060.shtml
- ^ Shulgin AT (2003). "Basic Pharmacology and Effects". In Laing RR (ed.). Hallucinogens: A Forensic Drug Handbook. Forensic Drug Handbook Series. Elsevier Science. pp. 67–137. ISBN 978-0-12-433951-4. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ Glennon RA, Liebowitz SM, Anderson GM (March 1980). "Serotonin receptor affinities of psychoactive phenalkylamine analogues". J Med Chem. 23 (3): 294–299. doi:10.1021/jm00177a017. PMID 7365744.
- ^ Corne SJ, Pickering RW, Warner BT (February 1963). "A method for assessing the effects of drugs on the central actions of 5-hydroxytryptamine". Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 20 (1): 106–120. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.1963.tb01302.x. PMC 1703746. PMID 14023050.
- ^ Keller WJ; Ferguson GG (July 1977). "Effects of 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine derivatives on monoamine oxidase". Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 66 (7): 1048–50. doi:10.1002/jps.2600660741. PMID 886445.
- ^ Nichols DE (August 1981). "Structure-activity relationships of phenethylamine hallucinogens". J Pharm Sci. 70 (8): 839–849. doi:10.1002/jps.2600700802. PMID 7031221.
- ^ Schweitzer JW, Friedhoff AJ (March 1968). "The metabolism of dimethoxyphenethylamine, a compound found in the urine of schizophrenics". Am J Psychiatry. 124 (9): 1249–1253. doi:10.1176/ajp.124.9.1249. PMID 5637912.
- ^ A. Pictet and M. Finkelstein (1909). "Synthese des Laudanosins." Ber. 42 1979-1989.
- ^ J. S. Buck and W. H. Perkin (1924). "CCXVIII. Ψ-epiBerberine." J. Chem. Soc., Trans. 125 1675-1686.
- ^ Atta-ur-Rahman, Malik, S., Zaman, K. (May 1992). "Nigellimine: A New Isoquinoline Alkaloid from the Seeds of Nigella sativa". Journal of Natural Products. 55 (5): 676–678. doi:10.1021/np50083a020. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ Lundström J (December 1970). "Biosynthesis of mescaline and 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine in Trichocereus pachanoi Br&R". Acta Pharmaceutica Suecica. 7 (6): 651–66. PMID 5511715.
- ^ Pummangura S; Nichols DE; McLaughlin JL (October 1977). "Cactus alkaloids XXXIII: beta-phenethylamines from the Guatemalan cactus Pilosocereus maxonii". Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 66 (10): 1485–7. doi:10.1002/jps.2600661037. PMID 925910.
- ^ Pardanani JH; McLaughlin JL; Kondrat RW; Cooks RG (1977). "Cactus alkaloids. XXXVI. Mescaline and related compounds from Trichocereus peruvianus". Lloydia. 40 (6): 585–90. PMID 600028.
External links
|
|---|
| | No ring subs. | |
|---|
| 4-Hydroxytryptamines | |
|---|
| 5-Hydroxytryptamines | |
|---|
| 5-Methoxytryptamines | |
|---|
| Other ring subs. | |
|---|
| α-Alkyltryptamines | |
|---|
| Others | |
|---|
|
- Ergolines/lysergamides (e.g., LSD)
- β-Carbolines and Harmala alkaloids (e.g., harmine, harmaline, 6-methoxyharmalan)
- Iboga alkaloids (e.g., 18-MAC, 18-MC, coronaridine, ibogaine, ibogamine, ME-18-MC, noribogaine, tabernanthine, voacangine)
- Ibogalogs (e.g., ibogainalog)
- O-Methylnordehydrobufotenine
- Partial ergolines (e.g., NDTDI, RU-28306, CT-5252)
- Piperidinylethylindoles (e.g., pip-T)
- Pyrrolidinylethylindoles (e.g., pyr-T, 5-MeO-pyr-T)
- Pyrrolidinylmethylindoles (e.g., MPMI, 4-HO-MPMI (lucigenol), 5-MeO-MPMI)
- Tetrahydropyridinylindoles (e.g., RU-28253 (5-MeO-THPI), NEtPhOH-THPI)
|
|---|
|
- Benzofurans (e.g., 5-MeO-DiBF, dimemebfe (5-MeO-BFE), mebfap)
- Benzothiophenes (e.g., 3-APBT)
- Indazolethylamines (e.g., AL-38022A, O-methyl-AL-34662)
- Indenylethylamines (e.g., C-DMT)
- Isotryptamines (e.g., 6-MeO-isoDMT, Ro60-0175)
- MYCO-005
- Quinolinylethylamines (e.g., mefloquine)
|
|---|
|
|---|
| | |
|---|
|
- Others: 2C-B-AN
- 2C-DB
- 2C-G-x (e.g., 2C-G-3, 2C-G-5)
- β-Keto-2C-B (βk-2C-B)
- β-Keto-2C-I (βk-2C-I)
- β-Methyl-2C-B (BMB)
- (e.g., BOB, BOD, BOH-2C-B)
- (e.g., HOT-2, HOT-7, HOT-17)
- N-Ethyl-2C-B
- (e.g., 2CB-2-EtO, 2CD-2-EtO, 2CD-5-EtO, 2CE-5-EtO, 2CE-5iPrO, 2CT2-5-EtO, ASR-2001 (2CB-5-PrO))
|
|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| Others |
- 2-TOET
- 2-TOM
- 25B-NAcPip
- 4-HA
- 5-TOET
- 5-TOM
- Benzofurans (e.g., 5-APB, 5-APDB, 6-APB, 6-APDB, F, F-2, F-22)
- Benzothiophenes (e.g., 5-APBT, 6-APBT)
- CT-5172
- DMAs (e.g., 2,4-DMA, 3,4-DMA)
- Fenfluramine
- MMA (3-MeO-4-MA)
- Norfenfluramine
- (e.g., 25D-NM-NDEAOP, DOB-NDEPA, DOI-NDEPA, DOM-NDEPA, DOTFM-NDEPA, M-NDEPA, TMA-2-NDEPA)
- PMA (4-MA)
- (e.g., TMA-3, TMA-4, TMA-5)
- TOMSO
- ZDCM-04
|
|---|
|
- 1-Aminomethylindanes (e.g., 2CB-Ind, jimscaline)
- 2-Aminoindanes (e.g., DOM-AI)
- 3-Benzazepines (e.g., lorcaserin)
- 3-Phenylpiperidines (e.g., LPH-5, LPH-48)
- Benzocyclobutenes (e.g., 2CBCB-NBOMe, TCB-2, tomscaline)
- Benzoxepins (e.g., BBOX, IBOX, TFMBOX)
- DMBMPP (juncosamine)
- Ergolines/lysergamides (e.g., LSD)
- Glaucine
- Partial ergolines (e.g., NDTDI, DEIMDHPCA, DEMPDHPCA, DEMTMPDHPCA, DEMNDHPCA)
- Phenylcyclopropylamines (e.g., DMCPA, TMT)
- Phenyloxazolamines (aminorexes) (e.g., 2C-B-aminorex)
- Pyridopyrroloquinoxalines (e.g., IHCH-7113)
- Z3517967757
- ZC-B
|
|---|
|
|---|
| |
|---|
| Others |
- Arylpiperazines (e.g., 2C-B-PP, 2-NP, mCPP, MK-212, ORG-12962, pCPP, pFPP, quipazine, TFMPP)
- Dihydrobenzoxazines (e.g., efavirenz)
- Phenoxyethylamines (e.g., CT-4719, ORG-37684)
- Pyridopyrroloquinoxalines (e.g., IHCH-7113)
- Quinazolinylethylamines (e.g., RH-34)
|
|---|
| Natural sources |
- Tryptamines: Acacia spp. (e.g., Acacia acuminata, Acacia confusa)
- Ayahuasca and vinho de Jurema (e.g., Psychotria viridis (chacruna), Dipolopterys cabrerana (chaliponga, chacruna), Mimosa tenuiflora (Mimosa hostilis; jurema))
- Brosimum (e.g., Brosimum acutifolium (takini))
- Hallucinogenic snuffs (e.g., Anadenanthera peregrina (yopo, jopo, cohoba, parica, ebene), Anadenanthera colubrina (vilca, cebil))
- Incilius alvarius (Bufo alvarius; Colorado River toad, Sonoran Desert toad; bufo)
- Psilocybin-containing mushrooms (magic mushrooms, shrooms) (e.g., Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe mexicana (teonanacatl))
- Lysergamides: Achnatherum robustum (sleepy grass)
- Epichloë spp.
- Ergot (Claviceps) (e.g., Claviceps purpurea, Claviceps paspali)
- Morning glory (Convolvulaceae) seeds (e.g., Ipomoea tricolor (tlitliltzin, badoh negro; Ipomoea violacea), Ipomoea corymbosa (coaxihuitl, ololiúqui; Rivea Corymbosa, Turbina Corymbosa), Argyreia nervosa (Hawaiian baby woodrose; HBWR))
- Periglandula spp. (e.g., Periglandula ipomoeae, Periglandula clandestina)
|
|---|
- See also: Hallucinogens
- Entactogens
- Tryptamines
- Phenethylamines
- Ergolines and lysergamides
- Serotonin receptor modulators
|
|
|---|
| Phenethylamines | |
|---|
| Amphetamines | |
|---|
| Phentermines | |
|---|
| Cathinones | |
|---|
Phenylisobutylamines (and further-extended) | |
|---|
Catecholamines (and close relatives) | |
|---|
Cyclized phenethylamines | | Phenylalkylpyrrolidines | |
|---|
2-Benzylpiperidines (phenidates) | |
|---|
Phenylmorpholines (phenmetrazines) | |
|---|
Phenyloxazolamines (aminorexes) | |
|---|
Isoquinolines and tetrahydroisoquinolines | |
|---|
| 2-Aminoindanes | |
|---|
| 2-Aminotetralins | |
|---|
| Others / unsorted |
- 1-Aminomethylindanes (e.g., 2CB-Ind, AMMI, bromojimscaline, jimscaline)
- 2-ADN
- 2-Benzhydrylpyrrolidine
- 2C-B-5-hemiFLY-α6 (BNAP)
- 2C-B-PYR
- 2CBecca
- 2CB7
- 2CJP
- 2CLisaB
- 2CLisaH
- 3-Benzazepines (e.g., fenoldopam, lorcaserin, 7-chlorolorcaserin, SCHEMBL5334361)
- 3-Benzhydrylmorpholine
- 3-Phenylpiperidines (e.g., 3-phenylpiperidine, 3-PPP, OSU-6162 (PNU-96391), LPH-5, LPH-48, 2C-B-3PIP, 2C-B-3PIP-NBOMe, 2C-B-3PIP-POMe, Z3517967757 (Z7757))
- 6-AB
- AL-1095
- Aminochromes (e.g., adrenochrome, adrenolutin)
- Benzocyclobutenes (e.g., 2CBCB-NBOMe, bromotomscaline, S33005, TCB-2, tomscaline)
- Benzoxepins (e.g., BBOX, IBOX, TFMBOX)
- Butyltolylquinuclidine
- Camfetamine
- Cypenamine (trans-2-phenylcyclopentylamine)
- Diphenidine
- Diphenylprolinol
- Ergolines (e.g., LSD)
- Fencamfamin
- GYKI-52895
- HDMP-29
- Ivabradine
- Methoxphenidine
- Methylmorphenate
- Milnacipran
- MT-45
- 2-Naphthylamine
- Org 6582
- Partial ergolines (e.g., NDTDI, RU-27849, DEIMDHPCA, DEMPDHPCA, DEMPDHPCA-2C-D, RU-27251)
- PF-592,379
- Phenylcyclopropylamines (e.g., DMCPA, TMT, tranylcypromine)
- Phenylpiracetams (e.g., phenylpiracetam, MRZ-9547, RGPU-95)
- Pyridopyrroloquinoxalines (e.g., lumateperone, deulumateperone, IHCH-7079, IHCH-7086, IHCH-7113, ITI-1549)
- Tetrahydrobenzopyranylamines (e.g., CT-5126)
- Tolazoline
- Tricyclics (e.g., AMDA, AMDH, benzoctamine, dizocilpine, SpAMDA)
- ZC-B
|
|---|
|
|---|
| Related compounds |
- 2-Furylethylamine
- 2-Pyrrolylethylamine
- 3-Pyrrolylethylamine
- 3-Pyrrolylpropylamine
- 2-Tetrahydrofurylethylamine
- 4-Benzylpiperidine
- 7-AB
- Alkylamines (e.g., 1,3-DMBATooltip 1,3-dimethylbutylamine, 1,4-DMAATooltip 1,4-dimethylamylamine, heptaminol, iproheptine, isometheptene, methylhexanamine/1,3-DMAA, octodrine, oenethyl, tuaminoheptane)
- Benzylamines (e.g., benzylamine, α-methylbenzylamine, MDM1EA, ALPHA, M-ALPHA, pargyline)
- Benzylpiperazines (e.g., benzylpiperazine, MDBZP, fipexide)
- Cyclohexylaminopropanes (e.g., propylhexedrine, norpropylhexedrine)
- Cyclopentylaminopropanes (e.g., isocyclamine, cyclopentamine)
- Phenoxyethylamines (e.g., 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenoxyethylamine, CT-4719, ORG-37684)
- Phenylalkenylamines (e.g., phenylbutenamine)
- Phenylalkynylamines (e.g., phenylbutynamine)
- Phenylpiperazines (e.g., 1-phenylpiperazine, mCPPTooltip meta-chlorophenylpiperazine, TFMPPTooltip trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine, oMPPTooltip ortho-methylphenylpiperazine, pFPPTooltip para-fluorophenylpiperazine, pMeOPPTooltip para-methoxyphenylpiperazine)
- Phenylpropylamines (e.g., phenylpropylamine, homo-MDA, homo-MDMA)
- Thienylaminopropanes (thiopropamines) (e.g., thiopropamine, methiopropamine, thiothinone)
|
|---|
- See also: Tryptamines
- Ergolines and lysergamides
- Stimulants
- Entactogens
- Psychedelics
|