Psychedelics

"Psychedelics can be divided into three classes based on their chemical structure: tryptamines, ergolines, and phenethylamines (Figure 1). Tryptamines are characterized by an indole, which is a 6-member benzene ring fused to a 5-member pyrrole ring with an ethylamine chain at the C3 position. Addition of methyl groups to the ethylamine chain and different functional groups at other positions, e.g. C4 and C5, yields psilocybin, psilocin (the active metabolite of psilocybin), DMT, and 5-MeO-DMT (see Figure 1 for full names). These compounds are closely related to the endogenous neurotransmitter serotonin (also 5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT), which is a tryptamine with a hydroxyl group at the C5 position. Ergolines, initially isolated from the ergot fungus and then further processed via chemical reactions, include LSD. The phenethylamine class, based on a scaffold of a benzene ring with an amino group attached through two-carbon, includes 2C-B, mescaline, amphetamine analogues such as DOI and DOM, and derivatives such as 25I-NBOMe."