chemistry

Methallylescaline

Methallylescaline is a chemistry topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Methallylescaline rather than just read about it. In short: 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.

Key takeaways

Methallylescaline belongs to chemistry; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
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Reproduce the core statement of Methallylescaline from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

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-HT2A 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.

Use and effects 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 or mental imagery, "visual theater", open-eye visuals, visual distortions, visual depth and movement effects, kaleidoscopic neon colors, watercolors, fantasy, 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. Others have noted that methallylescaline has strong visual effects, as well as prominent nausea, vomiting, and body load, including feeling "overstimulated. The drug is frequently compared to mescaline.

Interactions

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Methallylescaline acts as a potent agonist of the serotonin 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C receptors, among other actions. It was inactive serotonin 5-HT2B receptor agonist in one study, but was a potent agonist in another study. The drug is also a potent agonist of the serotonin 5-HT1 receptors and of the serotonin 5-HT5A receptor, as well as an agonist of the dopamine D3 receptor. The comprehensive receptor interactions of methallylescaline have been studied. The drug produces the head-twitch response (HTR), a behavioral proxy of psychedelic effects, in rodents. Surprisingly, the HTR induced by methallylescaline was blocked by the selective serotonin 5-HT2C receptor antagonist SB-242084 but not by the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist ketanserin. In addition to its psychedelic-like effects, methallylescaline produces hyperlocomotion (a stimulant-like effect), conditioned place preference (CPP; a rewarding effect), and modest self-administration (a reinforcing effect) in rodents, among other effects. Methallylescaline, along with BOD and DOI, has been reported to produce serotonergic neurotoxicity in rodents at high doses given repeatedly. Other psychedelics have also been found to produce neurotoxicity in preclinical research.

Pharmacokinetics The metabolism of methallylescaline has been studied.

Chemistry 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.

Synthesis The chemical synthesis of methallylescaline has been described.

Analogues Analogues of methallylescaline include mescaline, escaline, allylescaline, propynyl, and cyclopropylmescaline, among others. Some other analogues include 3C-MAL, 2C-T-3, 2C-O-3, and MMALM.

History Methallylescaline was first described in the literature by Alexander Shulgin in his 1991 book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved). It was first tried by Shulgin in 1981 and its hallucinogenic effects were discovered by him in 1982. The drug has an entry in PiHKAL, but not in Shulgin's 2011 book The Shulgin Index, Volume One: Psychedelic Phenethylamines and Related Compounds. It was encountered as a novel designer drug in Europe by 2013. Methallylescaline's pharmacology was described by Matthias Liechti and Daniel Trachsel and colleagues in 2021. Discussion of methallylescaline online began increasing in late 2023.

Society and culture

Names Alexander Shulgin described the name of methallylescaline (MAL) as "completely unsound". This was because there was no union of a methallyl group with escaline. Instead, methallylescaline is mescaline with a 2-propene group attached to the methyl of the methoxy group at the 4 position. However, Shulgin expressed that there is no way of naming the compound in that manner. The only corresponding proper name would be 4-methylallyldesmethylmescaline (MAD). But Shulgin found the acronym MAD to be disagreeable and ultimately preferred MAL.

Legal status

Canada Methallylescaline is not a controlled substance in Canada as of 2025.

Sweden Methallylescaline is illegal in Sweden as of 26 January 2016.

United States Methallylescaline is not explicitly scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act. However, due to its structural similarities with mescaline, it could potentially be prosecuted under the Federal Analogue Act if sold for human consumption.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Methallylescaline

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Methallylescaline claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In chemistry, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Methallylescaline before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Methallylescaline ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Methallylescaline

In research: Methallylescaline appears in chemistry research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Methallylescaline in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Methallylescaline is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 5-HT1A agonists, 5-HT1B agonists, 5-HT1D agonists, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Methallylescaline outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Methallylescaline in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Methallylescaline means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
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Frequently asked questions

What is Methallylescaline in simple terms?

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.

Why does Methallylescaline matter?

Because it connects several chemistry ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Methallylescaline?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Methallylescaline.