Benzylone (IUPAC chemical name: 1-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-2-(benzylamino)propan-1-one) is a ring-substituted synthetic cathinone.
Benzylone is a white powder, and the hydrochloride salt is a crystalline solid.
Benzylone has not been formally reviewed by WHO and is not currently under international control. Information was brought to WHO’s attention that this substance is manufactured clandestinely, poses a risk to public health and has no recognized therapeutic use.
The mode of action of benzylone suggests stimulant effects similar to those of other cathinones; however, these effects are relatively weak, and it did not produce stimulant effects in animal models. Limited information is available on its effects in humans.
In an animal model that predicts abuse potential, benzylone did not produce effects similar to those of 3,4-ethylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and its similarity to methamphetamine is unclear. No human studies have been conducted to assess abuse liability.
Benzylone has been detected in seized materials in multiple countries across several regions. Little information was available on the adverse effects of benzylone. Although it has been detected in post-mortem samples with other substances, there is no evidence that benzylone had a causative role in the deaths.