Methallylescaline

Methallylescaline (MAL), also known as 4-methylallyloxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, is a psychedelic drug of the phenethylamine and scaline families related to mescaline. It is taken orally.

The drug acts as a serotonin 5-HT₂ receptor agonist, including of the serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor. It is closely structurally related to mescaline and to other scalines like escaline and allylescaline.

Methallylescaline was first described by Alexander Shulgin in his 1991 book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved). It was encountered as a novel designer drug by 2013.

In his book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved), Alexander Shulgin lists the dose range of methallylescaline as 40 to 65 mg and its duration as 12 to 16 hours. As such, its dose range is relatively narrow. Moreover, the drug has been reported to have an unusually steep dose–response curve, such that a small increase in dose can result in an unexpectedly large increase in effects. Methallylescaline has about 6 times the potency of mescaline, which has a much higher listed dose range of 200 to 400 mg. Its onset is within 1 hour and peak effects occur within 2 hours.

Shulgin has described methallylescaline as a "mixed bag" in terms of experience reports. Its effects have been reported to include closed-eye visuals, "visual theater", open-eye visuals including visual distortions, visual depth and movement effects, kaleidoscopic neon colors, watercolors, fantasy, mental imagery, feelings of unreality, easy childhood memory recall, self-connectedness, eroticism, initial discomfort, overload, feeling overwhelmed, shades of possible amnesia, loss of contact, extreme restlessness, trouble sleeping, and enhanced dreams. It was also reported to produce quite strong body effects, diuretic effects, and slightly reduced heart rate. Some found it unpleasant and said that they would not repeat the experience, whereas others were impressed by it, found it enjoyable, and called it "beautiful". Many expressed that the dose they tried was too strong for them and that a lower dose would be better. Methallylescaline has been described as having relatively more visual imagery than other scalines like cyclopropylmescaline and allylescaline.

Methallylescaline acts as a potent agonist of the serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor. It also interacts with certain other targets, such as the serotonin 5-HT_2C receptor.

Methallylescaline, also known as 4-methylallyloxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, is a substituted phenethylamine and scaline. It is a synthetic derivative of mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine) with a methallyloxy group instead of methoxy group at the 4 position.

The chemical synthesis of methallylescaline has been described.