The substituted methylenedioxyphenethylamines (abbreviated as MDxx) represent a diverse chemical class of compounds derived from phenethylamines. This category encompasses numerous psychoactive substances with entactogenic, psychedelic, and/or stimulant properties, in addition to entheogens. These compounds find application as research chemicals, designer drugs, and recreational substances.[1]
The base compound of the MDxx class is 3,4-methylenedioxyphenethylamine (MDPEA), and the prototypical agent of this class is 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA; "ecstasy"). Other mentionables include 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine (MDEA; "Eve"), N-methyl-1,3-benzodioxolylbutanamine (MBDB; "Eden"), and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone (βk-MDMA; "Methylone").
The compounds most commonly regarded as comprising the family of MDxx derivatives include:
In addition, there are a number of other compounds that have some structural and pharmacological similarities to the methylenedioxyphenethylamines, and are useful for comparison. These can be broadly divided into (i) compounds where the methylenedioxyphenyl ring is retained but the phenethyl portion is modified, or (ii) compounds which retain the 3,4-cyclised amphetamine core common to the MDxx compounds, but have the 1,3-benzodioxole ring replaced by related heterocycles.