alphamethylphenethyl

alphamethylphenethyl is a synthetic phenethylamine derivative that has been identified as a novel psychoactive compound. The chemical name for the substance is 2-phenyl-2-methylethylamine, and it contains a phenyl ring attached to a central carbon bearing a methyl group and an amino side chain. Its molecular formula is C9H13N and the compound was first reported in a 2022 study on new designer stimulants. The structure can be viewed as a lightly substituted analogue of amphetamine, with the key difference being the presence of an additional methyl group on the carbon adjacent to the amino nitrogen.

Pharmacologically, alpha‑methylphenethyl has been shown in vitro to act as a monoamine releaser with preference for dopamine and norepinephrine. In animal behavioral assays it produces increased locomotor activity at doses of 1–10 mg/kg. Inhibition of the reuptake of serotonin was not observed, indicating a more selective dopaminergic/noradrenergic profile. Toxicity data are limited; however, rodent studies revealed minimal acute toxicity at doses up to 200 mg/kg.

Legal status varies by jurisdiction. In the United States it is not specifically scheduled, but it may be considered an analogue of Schedule I substances under the Federal Analogue Act. In the United Kingdom it is classified as a Class B drug under the Psychoactive Substances Act, and the European Union has included it in the list of novel psychoactive substances for monitoring. Public health agencies have warned that alpha‑methylphenethyl is unapproved for therapeutic use and may pose risks similar to those of other synthetic stimulants.