2-Methylphenethylamine Explained

2-Methylphenethylamine (2MPEA) is an organic compound with the chemical formula of . 2MPEA is a human trace amine associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonist,^[1] a property which it shares with its monomethylated phenethylamine isomers, such as amphetamine (α-methylphenethylamine),, and (a trace amine).

Very little data, even on toxicity, is available about its effects on humans other than that it activates the human TAAR1 receptor.

Notes and References

1. Wainscott DB, Little SP, Yin T, Tu Y, Rocco VP, He JX, Nelson DL . Pharmacologic characterization of the cloned human trace amine-associated receptor1 (TAAR1) and evidence for species differences with the rat TAAR1 . The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics . 320 . 1 . 475–85 . January 2007 . 17038507 . 10.1124/jpet.106.112532 . 10829497 . Several series of substituted phenylethylamines were investigated for activity at the human TAAR1 (Table 2). A surprising finding was the potency of phenylethylamines with substituents at the phenyl C2 position relative to their respective C4-substituted congeners. In each case, except for the hydroxyl substituent, the C2-substituted compound had 8- to 27-fold higher potency than the C4-substituted compound. The C3-substituted compound in each homologous series was typically 2- to 5-fold less potent than the 2-substituted compound, except for the hydroxyl substituent. The most potent of the 2-substituted phenylethylamines was 2-chloro-β-PEA, followed by 2-fluoro-β-PEA, 2-bromo-β-PEA, 2-methoxy-β-PEA, 2-methyl-β-PEA, and then 2-hydroxy-β-PEA.
   The effect of β-carbon substitution on the phenylethylamine side chain was also investigated (Table 3). A β-methyl substituent was well tolerated compared with β-PEA. In fact, S-(−)-β-methyl-β-PEA was as potent as β-PEA at human TAAR1. β-Hydroxyl substitution was, however, not tolerated compared with β-PEA. In both cases of β-substitution, enantiomeric selectivity was demonstrated.
   In contrast to a methyl substitution on the β-carbon, an α-methyl substitution reduced potency by ~10-fold for d-amphetamine and 16-fold for l-amphetamine relative to β-PEA (Table 4). N-Methyl substitution was fairly well tolerated; however, N,N-dimethyl substitution was not..