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Other names | PCA; 4-Chloroamphetamine; 4-CA |
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Formula | C9H12ClN |
Molar mass | 169.65 g·mol−1 |
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para-Chloroamphetamine (PCA), also known as 4-chloroamphetamine (4-CA), is a substituted amphetamine and monoamine releaser similar to MDMA, but with substantially higher neurotoxicity, thought to be due to the unrestrained release of both serotonin and dopamine by a metabolite.[1] It is used as a neurotoxin by neurobiologists to selectively kill serotonergic neurons for research purposes, in the same way that 6-hydroxydopamine is used to kill dopaminergic neurons.[2][3][4][5]
para-Chloroamphetamine has been detected as an apparent designer drug,[6] along with the related 3-chloroamphetamine, which is even more potent as a releaser of dopamine and serotonin but slightly less neurotoxic.[7][8][9][10][11]
The closely related N-methylated derivative, para-chloromethamphetamine (CMA), which is metabolized to para-chloroamphetamine in vivo, has neurotoxic properties as well.
As of October 2015, 4-CA is a controlled substance in China.[12]
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