2C-T
Encyclopedia
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
.
It was first synthesized and studied through a collaboration between David E. Nichols
and Alexander Shulgin
.
s, and is the 4-methylthio
analogue
of 2C-O
, a positional isomer of mescaline. It is also the 2C analog of Aleph
. The full name of the chemical is 2-(2,5-dimethoxy
-4-(methylthio
)phenyl)ethanamine. The CAS number of 2C-T is 61638-09-3.
is around 75-150 mg and produces mescaline and MDMA-like effects that may last up to 6 hours.
serotonin receptor
agonist
in the brain, a mechanism of action shared by all of the hallucinogenic tryptamines and phenethylamines for which the mechanism of action is known. It also acts as a MAOI.
group at the 4 position such as 2C-T-7
and 4-MTA
are known to act as selective monoamine oxidase
A inhibitors, a side effect which can lead to lethal serotonin syndrome
when they are combined with stimulant
drugs. Most confirmed fatalities involving 2C-T drugs involve their combination with other hard drugs such as alcohol, ecstasy or cocaine.
.
; however its close similarity in structure and effects to 2C-T-7
could potentially subject possession and sale of 2C-T to prosecution under the Federal Analog Act
. This seems to be the tack the federal government is taking in the wake of the DEA's Operation Web Tryp
. A series of court cases in the US involving the prosecution of several online vendors were commenced in 2004 and resulted in a number of convictions.
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
and hallucinogenic drug of the 2C family. It is used by some as an entheogen
Entheogen
An entheogen , in the strict sense, is a psychoactive substance used in a religious, shamanic, or spiritual context. Historically, entheogens were mostly derived from plant sources and have been used in a variety of traditional religious contexts...
. It has structural and pharmacodynamic properties similar to the drugs mescaline
Mescaline
Mescaline or 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine is a naturally occurring psychedelic alkaloid of the phenethylamine class used mainly as an entheogen....
and 2C-T-2
2C-T-2
2C-T-2, or 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylthiophenethylamine is a psychedelic and entactogenic phenethylamine of the 2C family. It was first synthesized in 1981 by Alexander Shulgin. The drug has structural and pharmacodynamic properties similar to the drug 2C-T-7 .-Dosage:In Alexander Shulgin's book...
.
It was first synthesized and studied through a collaboration between David E. Nichols
David E. Nichols
David E. Nichols is an American pharmacologist and medicinal chemist.Presently the Robert C. and Charlotte P. Anderson Distinguished Chair in Pharmacology at Purdue University, Nichols has worked in the field of psychoactive drugs since 1969...
and Alexander Shulgin
Alexander Shulgin
Alexander "Sasha" Theodore Shulgin is an American pharmacologist, chemist, artist, and drug developer.Shulgin is credited with the popularization of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, especially for psychopharmaceutical use and the treatment of depression and...
.
Chemistry
2C-T is in a class of compounds commonly known as phenethylaminePhenethylamine
Phenylethylamine or phenethylamine is a natural monoamine alkaloid, trace amine, and also the name of a class of chemicals with many members well known for psychoactive drug and stimulant effects. Studies suggest that phenylethylamine functions as a neuromodulator or neurotransmitter in the...
s, and is the 4-methylthio
Thio
The prefix thio-, when applied to a chemical, such as an ion, means that an oxygen atom in the compound has been replaced by a sulfur atom. This meaning is especially valid in organic chemistry. For example, the word ether refers to an oxygen-containing compound having the general chemical...
analogue
Analog (chemistry)
In chemistry, a structural analog , also known as chemical analog or simply analog, is a compound having a structure similar to that of another one, but differing from it in respect of a certain component. It can differ in one or more atoms, functional groups, or substructures, which are replaced...
of 2C-O
2C-O
2C-O or 2,4,5-Trimethoxyphenethylamine is a phenethylamine of the 2C family and was first synthesized by Jansen in 1931. It is a positional isomer of the drug mescaline and is structurally similar to the drug 2C-D.-Chemistry:...
, a positional isomer of mescaline. It is also the 2C analog of Aleph
Aleph (psychedelic)
Aleph, or 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylthioamphetamine, 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. In his book PiHKAL , Shulgin lists the dosage range as...
. The full name of the chemical is 2-(2,5-dimethoxy
Methoxy
In chemistry , methoxy refers to the functional group consisting of a methyl group bound to oxygen. This alkoxy group has the formula O–CH3.The word is used in organic nomenclature usually to describe an ether...
-4-(methylthio
Thio
The prefix thio-, when applied to a chemical, such as an ion, means that an oxygen atom in the compound has been replaced by a sulfur atom. This meaning is especially valid in organic chemistry. For example, the word ether refers to an oxygen-containing compound having the general chemical...
)phenyl)ethanamine. The CAS number of 2C-T is 61638-09-3.
Effects
2C-T's active dosageEffective dose (pharmacology)
An effective dose in pharmacology is the dose or amount of drug that produces a therapeutic response or desired effect in some fraction of the subjects taking it....
is around 75-150 mg and produces mescaline and MDMA-like effects that may last up to 6 hours.
Pharmacology
The mechanism that produces 2C-T’s hallucinogenic and entheogenic effects has not been specifically established, however it is most likely to result from action as a 5-HT2A5-HT2A receptor
The mammalian 5-HT2A receptor is a subtype of the 5-HT2 receptor that belongs to the serotonin receptor family and is a G protein-coupled receptor . This is the main excitatory receptor subtype among the GPCRs for serotonin , although 5-HT2A may also have an inhibitory effect on certain areas such...
serotonin receptor
5-HT receptor
The serotonin receptors, also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors or 5-HT receptors, are a group of G protein-coupled receptors and ligand-gated ion channels found in the central and peripheral nervous systems. They mediate both excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission...
agonist
Agonist
An agonist is a chemical that binds to a receptor of a cell and triggers a response by that cell. Agonists often mimic the action of a naturally occurring substance...
in the brain, a mechanism of action shared by all of the hallucinogenic tryptamines and phenethylamines for which the mechanism of action is known. It also acts as a MAOI.
Dangers
The toxicity of 2C-T is not well documented. 2C-T is considerably less potent than other related drugs such as 2C-T-7, but it may be expected that at higher doses it would display similar toxicity to that of other phenethylamines of the 2C-T family. Other phenethylamine derivatives substituted with an alkylthioThio
The prefix thio-, when applied to a chemical, such as an ion, means that an oxygen atom in the compound has been replaced by a sulfur atom. This meaning is especially valid in organic chemistry. For example, the word ether refers to an oxygen-containing compound having the general chemical...
group at the 4 position such as 2C-T-7
2C-T-7
2C-T-7 is a psychedelic phenethylamine of the 2C family. In his book PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story, Alexander Shulgin lists the dosage range as 10 to 30 mg. 2C-T-7 is generally taken orally, and produces psychedelic and entactogenic effects that last 8 to 15 hours...
and 4-MTA
4-MTA
4-Methylthioamphetamine is an illicit drug and research chemical developed in the 1990s by a team led by David E. Nichols at Purdue University. It acts as a non-neurotoxic highly selective serotonin releasing agent in animals...
are known to act as selective monoamine oxidase
Monoamine oxidase
L-Monoamine oxidases are a family of enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of monoamines. They are found bound to the outer membrane of mitochondria in most cell types in the body. The enzyme was originally discovered by Mary Bernheim in the liver and was named tyramine oxidase...
A inhibitors, a side effect which can lead to lethal serotonin syndrome
Serotonin syndrome
Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction that may occur following therapeutic drug use, inadvertent interactions between drugs, overdose of particular drugs, or the recreational use of certain drugs...
when they are combined with stimulant
Stimulant
Stimulants are psychoactive drugs which induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical function or both. Examples of these kinds of effects may include enhanced alertness, wakefulness, and locomotion, among others...
drugs. Most confirmed fatalities involving 2C-T drugs involve their combination with other hard drugs such as alcohol, ecstasy or cocaine.
Popularity
2C-T is almost unknown on the black market although it has rarely been sold by "research chemical" companies. Limited accounts of 2C-T can be found in the book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines i Have Known And Loved)PiHKAL
PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story is a book by Dr. Alexander Shulgin and Ann Shulgin which was published in 1991. The subject of the work is psychoactive phenethylamine chemical derivatives, notably those that act as psychedelics and/or empathogen-entactogens...
.
Legality
2C-T is unscheduled and unregulated in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; however its close similarity in structure and effects to 2C-T-7
2C-T-7
2C-T-7 is a psychedelic phenethylamine of the 2C family. In his book PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story, Alexander Shulgin lists the dosage range as 10 to 30 mg. 2C-T-7 is generally taken orally, and produces psychedelic and entactogenic effects that last 8 to 15 hours...
could potentially subject possession and sale of 2C-T to prosecution under the Federal Analog Act
Federal Analog Act
The Federal Analog Act, , is a controversial section of the United States Controlled Substances Act which allowed any chemical "substantially similar" to a controlled substance listed in Schedule I or II to be treated as if it were also listed in those schedules, but only if intended for human...
. This seems to be the tack the federal government is taking in the wake of the DEA's Operation Web Tryp
Operation Web Tryp
Operation Web Tryp was a United States Drug Enforcement Administration operation that ended on July 21, 2004 with the arrests of 10 persons. Its purpose was to investigate web sites suspected of distribution of unscheduled, unregulated tryptamines and phenethylamines of questionable legality...
. A series of court cases in the US involving the prosecution of several online vendors were commenced in 2004 and resulted in a number of convictions.