4C (psychedelics)

4C (4C-x), also known as 4-substituted 2,5-dimethoxy-α-ethylphenethylamines, is a general name for the family of psychedelic and related phenylisobutylamines (α-ethylphenethylamines) having methoxy groups at the 2 and 5 positions of the phenyl ring and a 4-position substituent.^[1][2][3][4] These compounds are analogues of the 2Cs and DOx drugs, but the α-alkyl chain has been further lengthed (0 carbons for 2C, 1 carbon for DOx, and 2 carbons for 4C).^[1][2][3]

The most notable and well-known of the 4C drugs is Ariadne (4C-D).^[1][2][3] This drug produces only threshold psychedelic effects and has been described as non-hallucinogenic or as having "the alert of a psychedelic, with none of the rest of the package".^[2] These unique properties have made Ariadne of interest for potential therapeutic applications.^[2] In contrast to Ariadne, other 4C drugs, such as 4C-B, have been reported to be more significantly psychedelic.^[3] The pharmacology of the 4C drugs has been studied and they are known to act as serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor agonists, but with lower efficacy than other related psychedelics like the 2Cs and DOx drugs.^[4][5]

4C drugs have been developed and/or studied by Alexander Shulgin,^[1][2] Daniel Trachsel,^[3] and Michael Cunningham and colleagues.^[4]