Methylmethaqualone (MMQ) is a quinazolinone and an analogue of methaqualone that has similar sedative and hypnotic properties to its parent compound (resulting from its agonist activity at the β subtype of the GABAA receptor) and is around 3 times as potent in animal models.[1] Methylmethaqualone differs from methaqualone by 4-methylation on the phenyl ring. It was made illegal in Germany in 1999 and listed by the DEA as a "drug of forensic interest" at about the same time, but little other information is available. It would appear that this compound was sold on the black market in Germany as a designer druganalogue of methaqualone.[2][3]
Animal studies of methylmethaqualone have shown it to produce convulsions at only slightly above the effective sedative dose,[4] and anecdotal reports from human users have confirmed that it can have a pro-convulsive effect, which has potential to make this compound particularly hazardous if taken in excessive doses.
References
^DE Patent 1124504B - Verfahren zur Herstellung von 2-Methyl-3-(2',4'-dimethylphenyl)-4-oxo-3,4-dihydrochinazolin
^Angelos SA, Lankin DC, Meyers JA, Raney JK (March 1993). "The structural identification of a methyl analog of methaqualone via 2-dimensional NMR techniques". Journal of Forensic Sciences. 38 (2): 455–65. doi:10.1520/JFS13428J. PMID8455002.
^Boltze KH, Dell HD, Lehwald H, Lorenz D, Rueberg-Schweer M (August 1963). "[Substituted 4-Quinazolinone Derivatives As Hypnotics and Anticonvulsants]". Arzneimittel-Forschung (in German). 13: 688–701. PMID14085923.
