What is 3-MMC?

3-Methylmethcathinone (or 3-MMC) is a synthetic entactogenic stimulant belongs to a chemical class known as cathinone and exhibits stimulating, entactogenic and mild hallucinogenic effects. 3-MMC is basically cathionone derivative, which is the principle active constituent of plant “khat” (Cathullus edullis) found in east Africa. It has been considered as a less potent version of 4-mmc (mephedrone).

The 3-MMC can be obtained through online as a research chemical. It becomes first available soon after mephedrone was banned.

3-MMC belongs to a substituted cathinone class, where cathinones are the sub-class of amphetamines. It is structurally analogous to mephedrone, and differs in the substitution of methyl group at R3 rather than at R4. It possesses the same core amphetamine structure of a phenyl ring which by the virtue of ethyl chain is attached to an amino group and also exhibits methyl substitution at R. It differs from other cathinones by the ketone attachment on the beta carbon of the amphetamine framework, that’s why they are also known as the keto-amphetamines. 3-MMC undergoes two methyl substitutions, such as at R3 position of the phenyl ring and the other at the nitrogen group RN on the cathinone skeleton.

It is available in market as white powder or crystallized shards and is taken via insufflations, vaporized solutions or through injections. It has been regarded as a notoriously dangerous drug, due to its potential for inducing compulsive redosing that could lead to paranoid, stimulant psychosis and delusional state.