Benzscaline
Benzscaline, also known as 4-benzyloxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, is a serotonin receptor agonist and possible serotonergic psychedelic of the phenethylamine and scaline families.Use and effects
According to Alexander Shulgin in PiHKAL as well as Daniel Trachsel and colleagues, benzscaline is not known to have been tested in humans but may be active as a serotonergic psychedelic with predicted potency similar to that of proscaline. It is notable in this regard that the amphetamine analogue of benzscaline, 3C-BZ, is active as a psychedelic with similar effects to lysergic acid diethylamide or 3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine, and is said to be 9-fold more potent than mescaline but with marked interindividual variability. The high interindividual variability of 3C-BZ is said to have discouraged further investigation into benzscaline. Benzscaline was reportedly eventually assayed in humans at Hyperlab and this was published in 2014.Pharmacology
Benzscaline is a potent serotonin 5-HT2A receptor partial agonist, with an affinity of 150nM, an activational potency of 27nM, and an efficacy of 77%. Its affinity and activational potency were 63- and 370-fold more potent than those of mescaline, respectively, and it was the most potent assessed mescaline analogue. In addition, benzscaline was more efficacious in activating the receptor than mescaline. Benzscaline does not activate the serotonin 5-HT2B receptor, but does show affinity for the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor. It also shows high affinity for the rat trace amine-associated receptor 1 , but not for the mouse TAAR1, and does not activate the human TAAR1. The drug does not appear to bind to the monoamine transporters.History
Benzscaline was first patented in 1931 and was intended for therapeutic use.Society and culture
Benzscaline is not a controlled substance in Canada as of 2025.