Methylenedioxyphenethylamine

MDPEA, also known as 3,4-methylenedioxyphenethylamine or as homopiperonylamine, is a possible psychoactive drug of the phenethylamine and methylenedioxyphenethylamine families. It is the 3,4-methylenedioxy derivative of phenethylamine (PEA). The drug is structurally related to 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), but lacks the methyl group at the α carbon. It is a key parent compound of a large group of compounds known as entactogens such as MDMA ("ecstasy").

==Use and effects== According to Alexander Shulgin in his book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved), MDPEA was inactive at doses of up to 300mg orally. This is likely because of extensive first-pass metabolism by the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO). However, if MDPEA were either used in high enough of doses (e.g., 1–2grams), or in combination with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), it is probable that it would become active, though it would likely have a relatively short duration. This idea is similar in concept to the use of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitors to augment dimethyltryptamine (DMT) as in ayahuasca and of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors to potentiate phenethylamine (PEA).