2C-TFM is a

psychedelic Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...

phenethylamine Phenethylamine (PEA) is an organic compound, natural monoamine alkaloid, and trace amine, which acts as a central nervous system stimulant in humans. In the brain, phenethylamine regulates monoamine neurotransmission by binding to trace amin ...

of the

2C family 2C (2C-''x'') is a general name for the family of psychedelic phenethylamines containing methoxy groups on the 2 and 5 positions of a benzene ring. Most of these compounds also carry lipophilic substituents at the 4 position, usually resulting in ...

. It was first synthesized in the laboratory of

David E. Nichols David Earl Nichols (born December 23, 1944, Covington, Kentucky) is an Americans, American pharmacologist and medicinal chemist. Previously the Robert C. and Charlotte P. Anderson Distinguished Chair in Pharmacology at Purdue University, Nichol ...

. It has also been called 2C-CF₃, a name derived from the

Para Para, or PARA, may refer to: Businesses and organizations * Paramount Global, traded as PARA on the Nasdaq stock exchange * Para Group, the former name of CT Corp * Para Rubber, now Skellerup, a New Zealand manufacturer * Para USA, formerly ...

-trifluoromethyl group it contains.

Chemistry

2C-TFM is a code that represents 4-tri

fluoro Fluorine is a chemical element with the symbol F and atomic number 9. It is the lightest halogen and exists at standard conditions as a highly toxic, pale yellow diatomic gas. As the most electronegative reactive element, it is extremely react ...

methyl In organic chemistry, a methyl group is an alkyl derived from methane, containing one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms, having chemical formula . In formulas, the group is often abbreviated as Me. This hydrocarbon group occurs in many ...

-2,5-di

methoxy In organic chemistry, a methoxy group is the functional group consisting of a methyl group bound to oxygen. This alkoxy group has the formula . On a benzene ring, the Hammett equation classifies a methoxy substituent at the ''para'' position as ...

. The full name of the chemical is 2- ,5-dimethoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylthanamine.

Dosage

A psychedelic dosage of 2C-TFM is reported to be 3–5 mg.

Effects

Very little data exists, but some reports suggest 2C-TFM produces psychedelic (hallucinogenic/entheogenic) effects that last between 5 and 7 hours. It is considered to be the strongest 2C variation.

Legality

United States

2C-TFM is unscheduled and uncontrolled in the United States, but possession and sales of 2C-TFM could potentially be prosecuted under the

Federal Analog Act The Federal Analogue Act, , is a section of the United States Controlled Substances Act passed in 1986 which allows any chemical "substantially similar" to a controlled substance listed in Controlled Substances Act#Schedule I controlled substance ...

because of its structural similarities to

2C-B 2C-B (4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine) is a psychedelic drug of the 2C family. It was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin in 1974. In Shulgin's book '' PiHKAL'', the dosage range is listed as 12–24 mg. As a recreational drug, 2C-B is so ...

and

2C-T-7 2C-T-7 is a psychedelic phenethylamine of the 2C family. In his book '' PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story'', Alexander Shulgin lists the dosage range as 10 to 30 mg. 2C-T-7 is generally taken orally, and produces psychedelic and entactogenic effec ...

. However, 2C-TFM, unlike many other

phenethylamines Substituted phenethylamines (or simply phenethylamines) are a chemical class of organic compounds that are based upon the phenethylamine structure; the class is composed of all the derivative compounds of phenethylamine which can be formed by ...

, has not been widely sold by internet retailers. In the wake of

Operation Web Tryp Operation Web Tryp was a United States Drug Enforcement Administration operation that ended on July 21, 2004 with the arrests of 10 persons. Its purpose was to investigate web sites suspected of distribution of unscheduled, unregulated tryptamines ...

in July 2004, the issue of possession and sales of 2C-TFM and other similar chemicals will probably be resolved in the courtroom as well the fate of this rare but unique

. There have been no reported deaths or hospitalizations from 2C-TFM.

Canada

As of October 31st, 2016, 2C-TFM is a controlled substance (Schedule III) in Canada.

Pharmacology

The mechanism that produces the hallucinogenic and entheogenic effects of 2C-TFM is most likely to result from action as a 5-HT_2A

serotonin receptor 5-HT receptors, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors, or serotonin receptors, are a group of G protein-coupled receptor and ligand-gated ion channels found in the central and peripheral nervous systems. They mediate both excitatory and inhibitory neur ...

agonist An agonist is a chemical that activates a receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are cellular proteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an antagonist blocks the action of the ago ...

in the brain, a mechanism of action shared by all of the hallucinogenic

tryptamines Substituted tryptamines, or serotonin analogues, are organic compounds which may be thought of as being derived from tryptamine itself. The molecular structures of all tryptamines contain an indole ring, joined to an amino (NH2) group via an ethy ...

and

. 2C-TFM displaced radiolabelled

ketanserin Ketanserin (INN, USAN, BAN) (brand name Sufrexal; former developmental code name R41468) is a drug used clinically as an antihypertensive agent and in scientific research to study the serotonin system; specifically, the 5-HT2 receptor family. I ...

from 5-HT_2A/C receptors with a K_i of 74.5 nM, as compared to a K_i of 80.9 nM for the more well known 5-HT_2A agonist DOI, indicating similar binding affinity at the receptor. The high binding affinity conferred by the 4-trifluoromethyl group is demonstrated by the fact that 2C-TFM is one of the only simple phenethylamines to rival the potency of psychedelic amphetamines like DOI and DOB, in both ''in vitro'' studies and human trials.

Dangers

The toxicity of 2C-TFM is not known.

Synthesis

It is noted in The Shulgin Index Volume 1: Psychedelic Phenethylamines and Related Compounds where the synthesis is written "from 2C-I (with trifluoroacetic anhydride) to 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-(trifluoroacetamido)ethane; (with methyl chlorodifluoroacetate, KF, Cul) to 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-(trifluoroacetamido)ethane; (with KOH) to 2C-TFM." The synthesis was published by Nichols and his research team. Since 2C-TFM is usually synthesised from 2C-I and the reaction does not generally consume all of the starting material, samples of 2C-TFM are likely to be contaminated with detectable traces of unreacted 2C-I, which may pose legal issues in jurisdictions where 2C-I is illegal, even though 2C-TFM itself may not be prohibited.

References

{{Hallucinogenic phenethylamines 2C (psychedelics) Trifluoromethyl compounds Phenethylamines Methoxy compounds