3C-BZ
3C-BZ, also known as 4-benzyloxy-3,5-dimethoxyamphetamine or as α-methylbenzscaline, is a psychedelic drug of the phenethylamine, amphetamine, and 3C families related to 3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine. It is the amphetamine analogue of benzscaline. The drug was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin and described in his 1991 book PiHKAL.
Use and effects
In his book PiHKAL, Alexander Shulgin lists the dose range is listed as 25 to 200mg and the duration as 18 to 24hours. The effects of 3C-BZ have been reported to vary significantly, ranging from intensified emotions and strange dreams, to effects similar to those of other psychedelics like LSD or TMA.Chemistry
Synthesis
3C-BZ was originally synthesized by Alexander Shulgin starting from 5-methoxyeugenol through a reaction with benzyl chloride to form the benzyloxy derivative of 5-methoxyeugenol. The obtained benzyl derivative was reacted with tetranitromethane to form 1--2-nitro-1-propene, from which 3C-BZ is obtained by reduction of the nitropropene with lithium aluminium hydride.Another possible synthetic route would be the reaction of benzyl chloride with syringaldehyde to form 3,5-dimethoxy-4-benzyloxybenzaldehyde followed by condensation with nitroethane to form 1--2-nitro-1-propene. The obtained nitropropene can be reduced using lithium aluminium hydride, Red-Al, or an aluminium-mercury amalgam.