4C (psychedelics)
class of chemical compounds
4C (4C-x), also known as 4-substituted 2,5-dimethoxy-α-ethylphenethylamines, is a general name for the family of psychedelic and related phenylisobutylamines (α-ethylphenethylamines) having methoxy groups at the 2 and 5 positions of the phenyl ring and a 4-position substituent. These compounds are analogues of the 2Cs and DOx drugs, but the α-alkyl chain has been further lengthed (0 carbons for 2C, 1 carbon for DOx, and 2 carbons for 4C).
The most notable and well-known of the 4C drugs is Ariadne (4C-D). This drug produces only threshold psychedelic effects and has been described as non-hallucinogenic or as having "the alert of a psychedelic, with none of the rest of the package". These unique properties have made Ariadne of interest for potential therapeutic applications. In contrast to Ariadne, other 4C drugs, such as 4C-B, have been reported to be more significantly psychedelic. The pharmacology of the 4C drugs has been studied and they are known to act as serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonists, but with lower efficacy than other related psychedelics like the 2Cs and DOx drugs.
4C drugs have been developed and/or studied by Alexander Shulgin, Daniel Trachsel, and Michael Cunningham and colleagues.
List of 4C drugs
Various other 4C drugs have also been studied and described.
See also
Substituted methoxyphenethylamine, 2C, DOx
PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved)
The Shulgin Index, Volume One: Psychedelic Phenethylamines and Related Compounds
5C-D
References
External links
Isomer Design
POD 70: Unraveling Ariadne's thread with Dr.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “4C (psychedelics)” as class of chemical compounds. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the science & nature register because the source frames it as class of chemical compounds. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
Stable identifiers, scientific names and standards terminology offer the best bridge between this overview and specialist evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 25, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q133865336. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “4C (psychedelics)”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow 4C (psychedelics) primary sources, 4C (psychedelics) archive and psychedelics research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “4C (psychedelics)”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “4C (psychedelics)” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.