Chemistry:α-Ethyltryptamine

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Short description: Chemical compound

α-Ethyltryptamine
AET.svg
Alpha-Ethyltryptamine-3d-sticks.png
Clinical data
Other namesalpha-Ethyltryptamine; αET; AET; Etryptamine; 3-(2-Aminobutyl)indole; 3-Indolylbutylamine; Ro 3-1932; NSC-88061
ATC code
  • none
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
PubChem SID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC12H16N2
Molar mass188.274 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point222 to 223 °C (432 to 433 °F)
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α-Ethyltryptamine (αET, AET), also known as etryptamine (INN, BAN, USAN), is a psychedelic, stimulant, and entactogenic drug of the tryptamine class.[1][2] It was originally developed and marketed as an antidepressant under the brand name Monase by Upjohn in the 1960s.[3]

History

Originally believed to exert its effects predominantly via monoamine oxidase inhibition, α-ethyltryptamine was developed during the 1960s as an antidepressant by Upjohn chemical company in the United States under the name Monase, but was withdrawn from potential commercial use due to incidence of idiosyncratic agranulocytosis.[4]

α-Ethyltryptamine gained limited recreational popularity as a designer drug in the 1980s. Subsequently, in the United States it was added to the Schedule I list of illegal substances in 1993.

Pharmacology

α-Ethyltryptamine is structurally and pharmacologically related to αMT, α-methyltryptamine, and it is believed[4] its central stimulant activity is probably not due to its activity as an MAOI, but appears to stem from its structural relationship to the indolic psychedelics. In contrast to αMT, α-ethyltryptamine is less stimulating and hallucinogenic, its effects resembling more those of entactogens like MDMA ("Ecstasy").

Similarly to αMT, α-ethyltryptamine is a releasing agent of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, with serotonin being the primary neurotransmitter affected.[5] In addition, it acts as a non-selective serotonin receptor agonist.[citation needed] A study performed in 1991[6] with rat subjects provided evidence that α-ethyltryptamine may induce serotonergic neurotoxicity similar to that of MDMA. As with many other serotonin releasing agents, injury can occur when excessive doses are taken or when combined with drugs such as other MAOIs.[7]

References

  1. ""Erowid AET (alpha-ethyltryptamine) Vault".". http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/aet/. 
  2. Alexander Shulgin; Ann Shulgin. "#11, a-ET: Alpha-Ethyltryptamine; Indole,3-(2-Aminobutyl); Tryptamine,Alpha-Ethyl; 3-(2-Aminobutyl)Indole; Monase,". "Tryptamines i Have Known And Loved: The Continuation", Part 2, "The Chemistry Continues".. Erowid Online Library.. p. 11. http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/tihkal/tihkal11.shtml. 
  3. Szmuszkovicz Jacob, "Method of Treating Mental Depression", US patent Patent 3296072, published 1967-01-03, assigned to Upjohn Co
  4. 4.0 4.1 Alexander Shulgin; Ann Shulgin (1997). ""Part 2, The Chemistry Continues: #11, a-ET: Alpha-Ethyltryptamine; Indole,3-(2-Aminobutyl); Tryptamine,Alpha-Ethyl; 3-(2-Aminobutyl)Indole; Monase," part v, "EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY."". Tryptamines i Have Known and Loved: The Continuation, (1st. ed.). Berkeley, CA : Transform Press, ©1997.. ISBN 978-0-9630096-9-2. http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/tihkal/tihkal11.shtml. Retrieved 15 November 2013. "This base, a-ET or etryptamine, was a promising anti-depressant, explored clinically as the acetate salt by Upjohn under the name of Monase. Its central stimulant activity is probably not due to its monoamineoxidase inhibition activity, but appears to stem from its structural relationship to the indolic psychedelics. It was withdrawn from potential commercial use with the appearance of an unacceptable incidence of a medical condition known as agranulocytosis, but the extra mural research into its action, among the lay population, goes on," 
  5. "Alpha-ethyltryptamines as dual dopamine-serotonin releasers". Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 24 (19): 4754–4758. October 2014. doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.07.062. PMID 25193229. 
  6. "Reduction in brain serotonin markers by alpha-ethyltryptamine (Monase)". European Journal of Pharmacology 200 (1): 187–190. July 1991. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(91)90686-K. PMID 1722753. 
  7. "Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, opioid analgesics and serotonin toxicity". British Journal of Anaesthesia 95 (4): 434–441. October 2005. doi:10.1093/bja/aei210. PMID 16051647.  "Drugs such as MDMA, ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), if combined with MAOIs (including moclobemide) do also cause fatalities because they act as serotonin releasers,"

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