3-Thiometaescaline (3-TME), also known as 3-ethylthio-4,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, is a psychedelic drug of the phenethylamine and scaline families related to mescaline. It is the analogue of metaescaline in which the ethoxy group at the 3 position has been replaced with an ethylthio group. The drug is one of three possible positional isomers of thiometaescaline (TME), the others being 4-thiometaescaline (4-TME) and 5-thiometaescaline (5-TME).
In his book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved) and other publications, Alexander Shulgin lists 3-TME's dose as 60 to 100mg orally and its duration as 10 to 15hours. Its onset is "quite early" and substantial effects occur by 1.5hours. The drug is approximately 4 to 6times as potent as mescaline. The effects of 3-TME have been reported to include introspection and insights, disinhibition, easy humor, sleep disturbances, and increased psychological strength after the experience. One person reported it as producing a "remarkable state" and another remarked that it was a kind of experience that should be had once a year if not more often. No visual or other perceptual effects were mentioned.
The chemical synthesis of 3-TME has been described.
3-TME was first described in the scientific literature by Alexander Shulgin and Peyton Jacob III in 1984. Subsequently, it was described in greater detail by Shulgin in PiHKAL in 1991.