3,4-Methylenedioxycathinone (MDC, MDCATH), also known as β-keto-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (β-keto-MDA or βk-MDA), is an entactogen and stimulant drug of the phenethylamine, amphetamine, and cathinone families related to methylone (βk-MDMA or MDMC). It is the β-keto analogue of MDA.
Like methylone, MDC is a serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA). In contrast to MDA and MDMA, MDC shows no activity at the serotonin 5-HT2 receptors, but does retain much weaker affinity for the rodent trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1).
The drug was patented as an antidepressant and antiparkinsonian agent by Peyton Jacob III and Alexander Shulgin in 1996. MDC and other non-N-substituted cathinones such as cathinone itself are chemically unstable due rapidly forming biologically inactive dimers and this has limited their prevalence.
+ Compound Ref Dextroamphetamine 698–1,765 6.6–7.2 5.8–24.8 Dextromethamphetamine 736–1,292 12.3–13.8 8.5–24.5 160–162 47–108 106–190 49.6–72 54.1–110 51.2–278 Cathinone 6,100–7,595 23.6–25.6 34.8–83.1 Methcathinone 2,592–5,853 22–26.1 12.5–49.9 966 394 370 Methylone () 234–708 140–270 117–220 Mephedrone 118.3–122 58–62.7 49.1–51 Notes: The smaller the value, the more strongly the drug releases the neurotransmitter. The assays were done in rat brain synaptosomes and human potencies may be different. See also Monoamine releasing agent § Activity profiles for a larger table with more compounds. Refs:
See also Substituted methylenedioxyphenethylamine Substituted cathinone 4-Methylcathinone 4-Methylmethcathinone Methylone
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