2,5-Dimethoxy-4-nitroamphetamine (DON) is a psychedelic drug of the phenethylamine, amphetamine, and DOx families. DON Entry Unlike related drugs like DOB, it produces both pronounced hallucinogenic and amphetamine-like stimulant effects. The drug is taken orally.

It acts as a serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonist, including of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. The drug produces psychedelic-like effects in animals.

DON was first described in the scientific literature by Ronald Coutts and Jerry Malicky by 1973. Its properties and effects in humans were described by Juan Sebastian Gomez-Jeria and colleagues in the mid-1980s. Subsequently, the drug was reviewed by Alexander Shulgin in his 1991 book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved). DON was encountered as a novel designer drug in Japan by the late 2000s.

Use and effects In his book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved), Alexander Shulgin lists DON's dose as 3.0 to 4.5mg orally and its duration as 8 to 15hours. The 3mg dose produced mostly stimulant-like effects while the 4.5mg dose produced full hallucinogenic effects.Gómez-Jeria, JS; Cassels, BK; Clavijo, R; Vargas, V; Quintana, R; Saavedra-Aguilar, JC. (1986). Spectroscopic characterization of a new hallucinogen: 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DON). Microgram 19 (11), 153–161. https://isomerdesign.com/bitnest/external/Microgram/19.11 "Here we can say that a dose of 4.5 mg of DON nitrate produces the standard effects described in the literature (10,11). The only qualitative difference between DON and its 4-Br analog (008) is that DON has a very strong stimulating action reminiscent of amphetamine. This action seems to reduce the incidence of insightful, and therefore potentially unpleasant experiences, and thus seems likely to appear on the market as an illicit recreational drug." Its onset was a little over 1hour. The duration of the psychedelic effects was about 8hours and the duration of the stimulation was at least 14hours, although in some people the psychedelic effects were longer-lasting.

The drug's effects were reported to include enhanced color perception, intense visual hallucinations, some auditory distortion, strong amphetamine-like stimulation, a frequent desire for physical activity, anxiety, stomach cramps, slight hypothermia, and little or no physical malaise. It was said to have very similar qualitative effects to those of DOB except for its additional strong stimulant component. Due to its pronounced stimulant effects, it was hypothesized that DON might have a reduced likelihood of potentially unpleasant and insightful experiences and thus might have more recreational potential.

Interactions

Pharmacology Pharmacodynamics DON acts as a serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor partial agonist, albeit with far lower potency and efficacy than other DOx drugs. It is also a serotonin 5-HT2B receptor partial agonist. Earlier studies have also reported its affinities at serotonin receptors, including the serotonin 5-HT2 and 5-HT1 receptors. It is inactive as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). The drug produces the head-twitch response, a behavioral proxy of psychedelic-like effects, in rodents. It shows similar potency and efficacy as DOM in this assay.

Chemistry DON is in a class of compounds commonly known as α-methyl phenethylamines, or amphetamines and the full chemical name is 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-nitrophenyl)propan-2-amine. It has a stereocenter.

Properties DON is a relatively hydrophilic compound.

Synthesis The chemical synthesis of DON has been described.

Analogues Analogues of DON include 2C-N, 2C-CN, and other DOx drugs like DOM and DOB, among others.

History DON was first described in the scientific literature by Ronald Coutts and Jerry Malicky by 1973. Its properties and effects in humans were described by Juan Sebastian Gomez-Jeria and colleagues in 1986 and 1987. Subsequently, the drug was reviewed by Alexander Shulgin in his 1991 book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved). DON was encountered as a novel designer drug in Japan by 2008 or 2009.

Society and culture Legal status Canada DON is a controlled substance in Canada under phenethylamine blanket-ban language.

United Kingdom DON is listed as a Class A drug in the Drugs controlled by the UK Misuse of Drugs Act after the table of contents of PiHKAL and TiHKAL were added to the schedules.

United States DON is not an explicitly controlled substance in the United States. However, because of its close similarity in structure and effects to DOM and DOB, possession and sale of DON may be subject to prosecution under the Federal Analog Act.

See also DOx (psychedelics) Stimulant § Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonists Motivation-enhancing drug § Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonists

References

External links DON - Isomer Design DON Experience Reports - Erowid DON - PiHKAL - Erowid DON - PiHKAL - Isomer Design DON - The Shulgin Index The Big & Dandy DON Thread - Bluelight DON: A Tricky Psychedelic That’s Hard to Handle - Tripsitter