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3-MEC
3-Methylethcathinone
3-MeEC
3-MEC is a synthetic stimulant and entactogen of the substituted cathinone class. It is a research chemical with very limited documentation, as few user reports exist in the public domain. 3-MEC is generally regarded as less potent than its positional isomer 4-MEC and is considered unpopular relative to other available cathinones. As with other research chemicals in this class, it carries a risk of habit formation.
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Threshold~25 mg
Light25-50 mg
Moderate50-100 mg
Strong100-150 mg
Heavy150+ mg
Duration
Onset5-15 minutes
After Effects1-3 hours
Total1-1.5 hours
Subjective Effects
Subjective Effects not written up yet
Pharmacology
Pharmacokinetics
An in-vitro metabolism study of the three methylethcathinone positional isomers tentatively identified seven metabolites for 3-MEC by liquid chromatography–high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. The authors described this as the first report of 3-MEC metabolism.1 These are tentative structures formed in an in-vitro model; they do not establish a human metabolite profile, relative pathway contributions, bioavailability, clearance, or elimination half-life.1
Metabolitesnone documented yet
Interactions
Interactions not written up yet
An unlisted combination is an unknown one, not a safe one. Check a dedicated combination chart before mixing.
Tolerance
Cross Tolerance
Stimulants acting on dopamine and norepinephrine systems, Other substituted cathinones
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
Classified as habit-forming.
History & Culture
3-MEC (3-Methylethcathinone) is a synthetic cathinone2 that has received limited documentation in both scientific literature and user communities.
Forensic emergence
A validated liquid-chromatography tandem-mass-spectrometry method was applied to forensic serum samples collected from June 2014 through August 2016. Eight samples showed recent MMC or MEC use; after three MMC findings, the remaining five were positive for 3-MEC, while 2-MEC and 4-MEC were not
Legality
By Country
United StatesIllegalSchedule I
Controlled Substances Act / DEA Orange Book
The DEA lists 3-methylethcathinone (3-MEC) as a positional isomer of Schedule I 4-methyl-N-ethylcathinone (4-MEC). The Orange Book is a general reference and directs requests for an official determination to DEA.
United KingdomIllegalClass B
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2 Part II, generic cathinone definition inserted by SI 2010/1207
3-MEC falls within the generic cathinone definition for compounds derived from 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone by phenyl-ring alkyl substitution and nitrogen alkyl substitution, subject to the provision's named exclusions.
References
Source Pages
Citations
- Electron activated dissociation—a complementary fragmentation technique to collision-induced dissociation for metabolite identification of synthetic cathinone positional isomers. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (n.d.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2023.341962123
- Bárbara Silva, Carla Fernandes, Maria Elizabeth Tiritan, Maria Manuela Pinto, Maria João Valente, Mariana Carvalho, & Fernanda Remião. (2016). Chiral enantioresolution of cathinone derivatives present in ‘legal highs’, and enantioselectivity evaluation on cytotoxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). Forensic Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-016-0324-y1
- Separation of ortho, meta and para isomers of methylmethcathinone (MMC) and methylethcathinone (MEC) using LC-ESI-MS/MS: Application to forensic serum samples. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (n.d.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2017.01.0461
Further Reading
Baumann MH et al. - 'Second-Generation' Mephedrone Analogs, 4-MEC and 4-MePPP
Cawrse BM et al. - Identifying cathinone derivatives in seized samples
ChemSpider: 3-Methylethcathinone hydrochloride- Meyer MR et al. - Beta-keto amphetamines metabolism studies
- Prosser JM, Nelson LS - The toxicology of bath salts: synthetic cathinones review
Automated synthesisInformation aggregated and synthesized using an autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins.
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