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    2C-C molecular structure

    2C-C Stats & Data

    Psychedelic Stimulant Research-chemical
    2cc
    NPS DataHub
    MW252.14
    FormulaC10H15Cl2NO2
    CAS88441-15-0
    IUPAC2-(4-Chloro-2,5-dimethoxy)ethanamine hydrochloride
    SMILES[Cl-].NCCc1cc(OC)c(Cl)cc1OC.[H+]
    InChIKeyBKHKVQPFRTVWJY-UHFFFAOYSA-N
    Phenethylamines; 2020/1. Von 2-Phenethylamin abgeleitete Verbindungen; 2021/1. Von 2-Phenethylamin abgeleitete Verbindungen; 2022/1. Von 2-Phenethylamin abgeleitete Verbindungen
    Chemical Class Phenethylamine
    Psychoactive Class Psychedelic / Stimulant
    Half-Life Unknown in humans; not formally studied. Reported effect window (4–7 h oral) is consistent with other 2C‑x phenethylamines but does not establish pharmacokinetic half‑life.

    Receptor Profile

    Receptor Actions

    Agonists
    5-HT2A receptor agonist (partial)
    5-HT2C receptor agonist

    History & Culture

    2C-C was first synthesized in 1983 by Alice C. Cheng and Neal Castagnoli Jr. at the University of California, San Francisco. The compound was not originally created for its psychoactive properties; rather, it was produced as an intermediate during their investigation of 6-hydroxydopamine analogs and their potential neurotoxicity. Their work was published in the scientific literature in 1984, though the compound's effects in humans remained unexplored at that time. The psychoactive properties of 2C-C were later investigated and documented by Alexander Shulgin, who included a detailed entry in his 1991 book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved). Shulgin's documentation reported an oral dosage range of 20 to 40 milligrams with a duration of 4 to 8 hours, providing the first systematic account of the substance's effects in humans. Following its documentation in PiHKAL, 2C-C remained relatively obscure until the 2000s when experience reports began appearing on online drug discussion forums. The substance has since been used recreationally and as an entheogen, though it remains uncommon compared to other members of the 2C-x family. It is rarely encountered on the street and has been primarily obtained as a grey area research chemical through online vendors. In 2005, the compound was first detected in Taiwan's drug supply. Analysis of the controlled drug market during the 2010s found 2C-C appearing as an occasional adulterant; in one study of 173 samples, 2C-C was detected only once, found alongside 25C-NBOMe in a sample sold as LSD.

    Subjective Effect Notes

    cognitive: The head space of 2C-C is described by many as one which is both insightful and relatively normal in its thought processes even at moderate to high dosages.

    Effect Profile

    Curated + 135 Reports
    Psychedelic 8.8

    Strong visuals, headspace, auditory effects, and body load

    Visual Intensity×3
    10103.8
    Headspace Depth×3
    109.32.7
    Auditory Effects×1
    10101.1
    Body Load / Somatic Effects×1
    10103.5
    Catalog Erowid BlueLight
    Stimulant 6.9

    Strong anxiety/jitters and stimulation with moderate euphoria and focus

    Stimulation / Energy×3
    97.7
    Euphoria / Mood Lift×2
    77.4
    Focus / Productivity×2
    74.8
    Anxiety / Jitters×1
    108.6
    Catalog Erowid
    Based on reports from:
    Effect Index Novel Pleasantry — nervewing Effect Index Spitfire — nervewing PiHKAL PiHKAL #22: 2C-C Bluelight Big & Dandy Thread Erowid Experience Reports PsychonautWiki 2C-C

    Duration Timeline

    Bluelight
    Onset Comeup Peak Offset After Effects
    Oral
    19-45 minutes
    45 minutes - 1.5 hours
    2-3 hours
    1-3 hours
    4-12 hours
    Total: 4-7 hours
    Insufflated
    4-19 minutes
    30 minutes - 1.0 hours
    2-3 hours
    1-3 hours
    2-6 hours
    Total: 4-8 hours

    Tolerance & Pharmacokinetics

    drugs.wiki
    Half-Life
    Unknown in humans; not formally studied. Reported effect window (4–7 h oral) is consistent with other 2C‑x phenethylamines but does not establish pharmacokinetic half‑life.
    Addiction Potential
    Low; no evidence for compulsive use in typical psychedelic patterns. No physical dependence reported.

    Tolerance Decay

    Full tolerance 1d Half tolerance 3d Baseline ~14d

    General psychedelic tolerance pattern: rapid tolerance after a single session, partial decay in ~3 days, near‑baseline by ~1–2 weeks for most users. Data are largely anecdotal by extrapolation from 2C‑B, mescaline, and class‑wide sources.

    Cross-Tolerances

    Other phenethylamine psychedelics (2C‑x)
    50% ●○○
    Tryptamine psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin, DMT)
    40% ●○○
    Lysergamides (e.g., LSD)
    50% ●○○

    Experience Report Analysis

    Erowid BlueLight
    99 Reports
    2002–2019 Date Range
    39 With Age Data
    31 Effects Detected

    Demographics

    Gender Distribution

    Age Distribution

    Reports Over Time

    Effect Analysis

    Erowid + Bluelight

    Effects aggregated from 135 experience reports (99 Erowid + 36 Bluelight)

    135 Reports
    142 Effects Detected
    71 Positive
    43 Adverse
    28 Neutral

    Effect Sentiment Distribution

    Confidence Distribution

    Positive Effects 71

    Color Enhancement 48.9% 86%
    Euphoria 48.9% 90%
    Stimulation 39.2% 81%
    Music Enhancement 37.8% 87%
    Empathy 35.5% 84%
    Tactile Enhancement 35.5% 85%
    Contentment 33.3% 84%
    Introspection 31.8% 83%
    Geometric Imagery 25.0% 88%
    Body High 22.2% 88%
    Patterning 22.2% 89%
    Surface Breathing 22.2% 84%
    Focus Enhancement 20.7% 83%
    Awe 19.4% 83%
    Thought Acceleration 19.4% 77%
    Libido Enhancement 19.4% 82%
    Visual Trails 19.4% 89%
    Joy 19.4% 88%
    Orgasm Enhancement 16.7% 86%
    Sociability Enhancement 16.7% 84%

    Adverse Effects 43

    Anxiety 36.3% 83%
    Body Load 36.1% 70%
    Nausea 32.6% 72%
    Confusion 26.6% 80%
    Muscle Tension 21.5% 95%
    Headache 14.0% 80%
    Fear 13.9% 85%
    Tension 13.9% 83%
    Sweating 11.1% 88%
    Chills 11.1% 82%
    Motor Impairment 10.4% 75%
    Memory Suppression 8.9% 70%
    Dysphoria 8.3% 80%
    Hot Flashes 8.3% 80%
    Body Temperature Change 8.3% 82%
    Restlessness 8.3% 79%
    Thought Deceleration 8.3% 78%
    Delusion 8.3% 92%
    Pupil Dilation 7.4% 88%
    Jaw Clenching 7.4% 71%

    Dose-Response Correlation

    How effect frequency changes across dose levels

    View data table
    Effect Light (n=21) Common (n=30) Strong (n=11)
    Visual Distortions 90.5% 90.0% 81.8%
    Nausea 33.3% 43.3% 72.7%
    Euphoria 33.3% 53.3% 63.6%
    Tactile Enhancement 33.3% 50.0% 63.6%
    Music Enhancement 38.1% 63.3% 18.2%
    Color Enhancement 38.1% 60.0% 54.5%
    Empathy 57.1% 53.3% 45.5%
    Stimulation 47.6% 53.3% 54.5%
    Anxiety 52.4% 43.3% 36.4%
    Sedation 52.4% 33.3% 27.3%
    Auditory Effects 47.6% 16.7% 27.3%
    Muscle Tension 47.6% 20.0% 36.4%
    Confusion 28.6% 46.7% 27.3%
    Introspection 28.6% 36.7% 36.4%
    Focus Enhancement 23.8% 36.7% 0%

    Dose–Effect Mapping

    Experience Reports

    How reported effects shift across dose tiers, based on 99 experience reports.

    Oral dose range: 25.0–40.0 mg (median 30.0 mg)
    Effect Light (n=21) Common (n=30) Strong (n=11)
    visual distortions
    90%
    90%
    82%
    		→
    nausea
    33%
    43%
    73%
    		↑
    euphoria
    33%
    53%
    64%
    		↑
    tactile enhancement
    33%
    50%
    64%
    		↑
    music enhancement
    38%
    63%
    18%
    		↓
    color enhancement
    38%
    60%
    54%
    		↑
    empathy
    57%
    53%
    46%
    		↓
    stimulation
    48%
    53%
    54%
    		→
    anxiety
    52%
    43%
    36%
    		↓
    sedation
    52%
    33%
    27%
    		↓
    auditory effects
    48%
    17%
    27%
    		↓
    muscle tension
    48%
    20%
    36%
    		↓
    confusion
    29%
    47%
    27%
    		→
    introspection
    29%
    37%
    36%
    		↑
    focus enhancement
    24%
    37%
    		— ↑
    closed-eye visuals
    14%
    30%
    		— ↑
    body high
    24%
    27%
    27%
    		→
    dissociation
    14%
    20%
    27%
    		↑
    headache
    14%
    17%
    18%
    		↑
    open-eye visuals
    14%
    10%
    18%
    		↑

    Showing top 20 of 30 effects

    Risk Escalation

    Sentiment Analysis

    Average frequency of positive vs adverse effects across dose tiers

    Light n=21
    9 positive 36.0% 7 adverse 28.6%
    Common n=30
    11 positive 40.6% 10 adverse 24.0%
    Strong n=11
    8 positive 45.4% 5 adverse 38.2%
    View effect breakdown

    Adverse Effects

    Effect Light (n=21) Common (n=30) Strong (n=11) Change
    Nausea
    33%
    43%
    73%
    		+118%
    Anxiety
    52%
    43%
    36%
    		-30%
    Muscle Tension
    48%
    20%
    36%
    		-23%
    Confusion
    29%
    47%
    27%
    		-4%
    Headache
    14%
    17%
    18%
    		+27%
    Increased Heart Rate —
    17%
    		— 0%
    Motor Impairment —
    17%
    		— 0%
    Pupil Dilation
    14%
    13%
    		— -6%
    Jaw Clenching
    10%
    13%
    		— +40%
    Memory Suppression —
    10%
    		— 0%

    Positive Effects

    Effect Light (n=21) Common (n=30) Strong (n=11) Change
    Euphoria
    33%
    53%
    64%
    		+90%
    Tactile Enhancement
    33%
    50%
    64%
    		+90%
    Music Enhancement
    38%
    63%
    18%
    		-52%
    Color Enhancement
    38%
    60%
    54%
    		+43%
    Empathy
    57%
    53%
    46%
    		-20%
    Stimulation
    48%
    53%
    54%
    		+14%
    Introspection
    29%
    37%
    36%
    		+27%
    Focus Enhancement
    24%
    37%
    		— +54%
    Body High
    24%
    27%
    27%
    		+14%
    Pain Relief —
    7%
    		— 0%
    Creativity Enhancement —
    7%
    		— 0%

    Dosage Distribution

    Dose distribution from experience reports

    Median: 30.0 mg IQR: 25.0–40.0 mg n=60

    Real-World Dose Distribution

    62K Doses

    From 140 individual dose entries

    Intramuscular (n=5)

    Median: 10.0mg 25th: 10.0mg 75th: 14.0mg 90th: 23.6mg
    mg/kg median: 0.128 mg/kg 75th: 0.206

    Oral (n=98)

    Median: 30.0mg 25th: 25.0mg 75th: 40.0mg 90th: 50.0mg
    mg/kg median: 0.425 mg/kg 75th: 0.592

    Insufflated (n=21)

    Median: 10.0mg 25th: 5.0mg 75th: 25.0mg 90th: 40.0mg
    mg/kg median: 0.11 mg/kg 75th: 0.344

    Rectal (n=6)

    Median: 16.5mg 25th: 12.75mg 75th: 19.5mg 90th: 21.0mg
    mg/kg median: 0.189 mg/kg 75th: 0.308

    Common Combinations

    Most co-occurring substances in experience reports

    Form / Preparation

    Most common forms and preparations reported

    Body-Weight Dosing

    Dose relative to body weight from reports with weight data

    Oral

    Median: 0.42 mg/kg IQR: 0.344–0.654 mg/kg n=58

    Insufflated

    Median: 0.344 mg/kg IQR: 0.096–0.46 mg/kg n=6

    Redose Patterns

    Redosing behavior across 80 reports

    22.5% Redosed
    1.3 Avg Doses
    20m Median Interval
    Read full reports on Erowid →

    Legal Status

    Country Status Notes
    Australia Illegal (blanket ban) Prohibited under a blanket ban covering all substituted phenethylamines, including the entire 2C-X family.
    Austria Illegal (NPSG) Controlled under the Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz (New Psychoactive Substances Act). The NPSV implementing regulation explicitly prohibits all substituted phenethylamines under Schedule II.
    Brazil Controlled Listed on Portaria SVS/MS nº 344 since February 18, 2014. Possession, production, and sale are prohibited.
    Canada Schedule III (CDSA) Controlled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act as of October 31, 2016, classified as a derivative of 2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine.
    China Controlled Added to China's list of controlled substances in October 2015.
    Denmark Uncontrolled Not listed as a controlled substance under Danish law as of available information.
    Finland Controlled Prohibited under a December 2014 government decree on psychoactive substances banned from the consumer market.
    Germany Anlage I BtMG Listed in Schedule I of the Betäubungsmittelgesetz (Narcotics Act) since December 13, 2014. Manufacturing, possession, import, export, purchase, sale, procurement, and dispensing require a license.
    Israel Controlled Added to Israel's list of controlled substances in December 2008. Purchase, sale, and possession are illegal.
    Japan Designated Substance (Shitei-Yakubutsu) Controlled under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law as a designated substance. Possession and sale are prohibited.
    Latvia Schedule I Classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under Latvian drug legislation.
    Sweden Controlled (health hazard) Classified as a health hazard since March 1, 2005 under regulation SFS 2005:26, pursuant to the Act on the Prohibition of Certain Goods Dangerous to Health (Lagen om förbud mot vissa hälsofarliga varor). Sale and possession are prohibited.
    Switzerland Controlled (Verzeichnis E) Specifically named as a controlled substance under Verzeichnis E of Swiss narcotics legislation.
    Turkey Controlled Classified as a drug under Turkish law. Possession, production, supply, and import are prohibited.
    United Kingdom Class A Controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 via the phenethylamine catch-all clause. Class A substances carry the most severe penalties under UK drug law.
    United States Schedule I Federally controlled under the Controlled Substances Act since July 9, 2012, pursuant to the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act. Possession, distribution, and manufacture are illegal without DEA authorization. Additionally scheduled at state level in Alabama (Schedule I since February 2013), Oklahoma (Schedule I since May 2011), Pennsylvania (Schedule I), and Vermont (classified under hallucinogenic drugs since July 2012).

    Harm Reduction

    drugs.wiki

    Onset may be delayed up to ~2 hours orally; avoid redosing early to prevent accidental overintoxication. Intranasal administration is frequently described as extremely painful with notable mucosal irritation and offers little safety advantage over oral routes while increasing the risk of rapid-onset anxiety or dysphoria. Always test unknown powders or pressed tablets with multiple reagents and, where available, use laboratory drug checking; 2C‑x tablets and powders have been found with synth impurities or misidentified contents. NBOMe compounds can be sold or confused as 2C‑x; they are active at sub‑milligram doses and have caused severe vasoconstriction and seizures—do not assume blotters or unusually potent materials are 2C‑C. Mixing serotonergic psychedelics with lithium has repeatedly been linked to seizures and life‑threatening reactions; this warning generalizes beyond LSD to serotonergic compounds, and several 2C‑x + lithium cases exist—avoid entirely. MAOIs can unpredictably potentiate phenethylamines and are best avoided; tramadol lowers seizure threshold and is dangerous with psychedelics. Stimulant combinations (e.g., amphetamines, cocaine) raise cardiovascular strain and anxiety; avoid. SSRIs/SNRIs commonly blunt psychedelic effects and make dose predictability poor; use caution and do not compensate by redosing high. For accurate dosing, use a calibrated 0.001 g scale and consider volumetric dosing for low or highly sensitive ranges; cheap pocket scales are often inaccurate below ~10–20 mg. Cross‑tolerance with other classic psychedelics is expected; waiting at least a week (preferably 2) between sessions reduces tolerance and psychological hangover. Set, setting, and trip‑sitter/plan matter; avoid driving and high‑risk activities until fully baseline.

    References

    Data Sources

    Cited References

    Drugs.wiki References

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