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Shulgin AT, Nichols DE. 
“Characterization of three new psychotomimetics. The Pharmacology of Hallucinogens”. 
The Psychopharmacology of Hallucinogens. 1978.
Abstract
Our present understanding of the mechanism of action of the psychotomimetic drugs has come from studies in several disciplines. Physico-chemical parameters of active compounds are easily measured and may reflect structural aspects which influence absorption and distribution in the experimental subject. In metabolic studies, the fate of these compounds has suggested possible intermediate active species, or the formation of detoxification products. Pharmacological research has revealed a complexity of neurotransmitter involvement during the course of their action. In intact animal studies the behavioral changes induced by these drugs have allowed prediction of potential activity levels in clinically untested compounds. A number of experimental animal model systems have shown a good correlation between performance modification and demonstrated human psychotomimetic potency.

The only effective challenge to the accuracy of predictions from such in vitro and in vivo studies comes from the eventual evaluation of the studied compounds in clinical trials in normal human subjects.

Three compounds are described in this presentation. Although all are known chemicals, they have not been previously reported to be psychotomimetic in man. They are structurally unrelated to one another, but each is a close analog of a recognized family of hallucinogens.
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