A new chemical, t-BOC-3,4-MDMA, is a modified form of MDMA that can evade detection in the illicit drug market and can be converted into the controlled substance MDMA. In mice, a 5 mg/kg dose of t-BOC-3,4-MDMA significantly altered place preference, indicating rewarding effects, and at 0.5 mg/kg/infusion it induced drug-taking behavior in self-administration tests. Microdialysis in rats showed that the chemical increased dopamine levels in the striatum. These findings suggest that t-BOC-3,4-MDMA has potential for misuse.
Methamnetamine (PAL-1046), an amphetamine-based new psychoactive substance that causes excessive serotonin release, is not regulated in most countries and had no prior metabolism studies. Using human liver microsomes and flavin-containing monooxygenase analyzed by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, eight phase I metabolites were identified. Metabolic processes include N-demethylation, N-hydroxylation, and aromatic hydroxylation. N-hydroxylated metabolites were confirmed using expressed FMOs. The major metabolite results from hydroxylation of the naphthalene ring. These findings may help detect methamnetamine ingestion by users.