4F-EPH (4-Fluoroethamphetamine)

4F-EPH is a fluorinated ethamphetamine used in pharmacological research. Purity ≥98% (HPLC). For research purposes only.

4F-EPH (4-Fluoroethylphenidate)

Product Name: 4F-EPH (4-Fluoroethylphenidate) Synonyms: p-Fluoroethylphenidate; ethyl 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(piperidin-2-yl)acetate; 4-fluoro-EPH

General Description: 4F-EPH is formally described as ethyl 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(piperidin-2-yl)acetate. It is a synthetic, psychoactive molecule belonging to the substituted phenidate class.2 Structurally, it is the 4-fluoro derivative of the designer drug ethylphenidate, and it shares a close structural homology with the widely prescribed ADHD medication methylphenidate (Ritalin).2 It emerged on the illicit designer drug market around 2016 as a novel psychoactive substance (NPS) to circumvent legislation controlling ethylphenidate.

In analytical, clinical, and forensic toxicology, 4F-EPH is utilized as a fundamental reference standard. It is essential for the calibration of analytical instrumentation (such as LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and HPLC) and the development of screening methodologies to identify and quantify the substance in seized materials, adulterated illicit street drugs, or biological matrices (e.g., whole blood, plasma, urine).

4F-EPH (4-Fluoroethylphenidate) Technical Information:

• CAS Number: 2160555-59-71
• Molecular Formula: C₁₅H₂₀FNO₂1
• Formula Weight: 265.33 g/mol
• SMILES: CCOC(=O)C(C1=CC=C(C=C1)F)C2CCCCN2
• InChI Key: RKXQYWFDJDYSEN-UHFFFAOYSA-N1
• Formulation: Typically supplied as a neat white-to-off-white crystalline solid (often formulated as a hydrochloride salt to ensure stability and solubility) or as a certified reference material solution (e.g., 1 mg/mL in methanol).

Biological Action: Like methylphenidate and ethylphenidate, 4F-EPH acts as a potent monoamine reuptake inhibitor.2 It primarily blocks the dopamine transporter (DAT) and the norepinephrine transporter (NET), preventing the clearance of these neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft. This massive accumulation of catecholamines heavily mediates its profound psychomotor stimulant, euphoric, and tachycardic effects.

4F-EPH (4-Fluoroethylphenidate)

Regulatory and Safety Information:

• Intended Use: This product is intended strictly for use as an analytical reference standard for forensic, toxicological, and academic research purposes.
• Warning: This product is a potent stimulant and carries a significant risk of cardiovascular stress, psychiatric complications, and physiological dependence. It is not for human or veterinary use.55
• Legal Status: 4F-EPH is regulated in numerous global jurisdictions.4 In the United Kingdom, it is controlled as a Class B substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act. In the United States, it is not explicitly scheduled at the federal level, but can be aggressively prosecuted under the Federal Analogue Act as a structural analogue of Schedule II phenidates if manufactured, distributed, or possessed with the intent for human consumption. Procurement may require relevant local licenses.66 Handling should only occur within professional laboratory environments using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).