Presence of 4-Hydroxy- N -methyl- N -ethyltryptamine in Commercially Available Products
Ana Barovic, Monica Pittiglio, Justin Barrett, Christopher D. J. Aretz, Tesfay Tesfatsion, Giovanni A. Ramirez, Westley Cruces
ACS Omega January 7, 2026 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.5c10889 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA tablet sold under the brand name Party Duck and an unlabeled powder were analyzed with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Both products contained 4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine (4-HO-MET), a synthetic psychedelic similar to psilocin. The tablets held an average of 2.82 or 1.45 mg of 4-HO-MET per tablet, and the powder qualitatively contained the same compound. These results show that 4-HO-MET is present in commercially available products and underscore the need for rigorous analytical methods to monitor tryptamine derivatives in unregulated markets.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Chemical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Commercially available tablet and unlabeled powder |
| Keywords | Tryptamines Synthetic cannabinoids Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry Business Chemistry |
| Key finding | Commercially available Party Duck tablets and an unlabeled powder contain 4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine (4-HO-MET), a synthetic psychedelic similar to psilocin. |
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) remain an ongoing challenge for public health, forensic laboratories, and regulatory agencies, especially when they are chemically related to controlled tryptamines but are marketed as legal alternatives. In the United States, the Federal Analogue Act (FAA) was intended to restrict such substances; however, regulatory loopholes continue to be exploited. Herein, we present the characterization of a commercially available tablet marketed under the brand name Party Duck, alongside an unlabeled powder provided by our laboratory. Samples were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). All materials were identified to contain 4-hydroxy- N -methyl- N -ethyltryptamine (4-HO-MET), a synthetic psychedelic structure and pharmacologically similar to psilocin. The mean concentration of 4-HO-MET in the tablets was determined to be 2.82 or 1.45 mg/tablet, while the powder was confirmed qualitatively to contain the same compound. These findings demonstrate that 4-HO-MET is present in commercially available products and emphasize the importance of rigorous analytical methods for continuous monitoring of tryptamine derivatives in unregulated markets.