In a June 2019 paper published in IUCrData, a team of researchers from CaaMTech and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth published the crystal structure of the compound N-methyl-N-propyltryptamine (MPT).1 MPT is a synthetic tryptamine that is a structural analog of the psychedelic drug DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine).
The research team described the purpose of this work in terms of improving treatment options using psychedelic drugs. They noted that psychedelics like psilocin and its prodrug psilocybin have a long duration of action, which can be challenging during therapy sessions from the perspective of both the patient and clinician. The team explained, “Accordingly, the mental health industry would benefit from exploring alternative tryptamine treatment options that provide similar therapeutic benefits while having a shorter duration of action.”