O-Acetylpsilocin
O-Acetylpsilocin (also known as psilacetin, 4-acetoxy-DMT, 4-AcO-DMT, or synthetic shrooms) is a semi-synthetic psychoactive drug that has been suggested by David Nichols to be a potentially useful alternative to psilocybin for pharmacological studies, as they are both believed to be prodrugs of psilocin.[2][3] However, some users report that O-acetylpsilocin's subjective effects differ from those of psilocybin and psilocin.[4][5] Additionally, some users prefer 4-AcO-DMT to natural psilocybin mushrooms due to feeling fewer adverse side effects such as nausea and heavy body load, which are more frequently reported in experiences involving natural mushrooms.[6] It is the acetylated form of the psilocybin mushroom alkaloid psilocin and is a lower homolog of 4-AcO-MET, 4-AcO-DET, 4-AcO-MiPT and 4-AcO-DiPT.
Clinical data
4-Acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 3-(2'-dimethylaminoethyl)-4-acetoxy-indole[1]
Oral, IV, intranasal, rectal
- none
C14H18N2O2
246.310 g·mol−1
172 to 173 °C (342 to 343 °F)
History[edit]
O-Acetylpsilocin (psilacetin) and several other esters of psilocin were patented on January 16, 1963, by Sandoz Ltd via Albert Hofmann & Franz Troxler.[1][7] Despite this, psilacetin remains a psychedelic compound with a limited history of use. It is theorized to be a prodrug of psilocin, as is psilocybin, which occurs naturally in many species of psychedelic mushrooms. This is because the aromatic acetyl moiety on the 4th position of the indole ring system is subject to deacetylation in acidic conditions such as those found in the stomach.[8] Psilacetin is O-acetylated psilocin, whereas psilocybin is O-phosphorylated.
Chemistry[edit]
O-Acetylpsilocin can be obtained by acetylation of psilocin under alkaline or strongly acidic conditions. It is, therefore, a synthetic compound. It is believed to be a prodrug of psilocin; however, speculation exists that psilacetin itself also may be psychoactive. O-Acetylpsilocin is more resistant than psilocin to oxidation under basic conditions due to its acetoxy group. While O-acetylpsilocin is not well researched (sometimes viewed negatively as a research chemical, as opposed to psilocin and psilocybin), it is not as difficult as psilocybin to synthesize. Due to their similar proposed mechanisms of action, this factor may provide further support for the proposition that O-acetylpsilocin might serve as an appropriate substitute for psilocybin in research of the application of psychedelic compounds in medicine.[2]
Given enough time in unfavorable conditions, O-acetylpsilocin can sometimes turn into a degraded form which is brown in color and can even progress into a brown/black tar-like substance. Preliminary GCMS analysis of the closely related homolog 4-acetoxy-DET suggests that this degraded form of O-acetylpsilocin consists mainly of the hydroxy form of the parent molecule.[9]