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mCPP
1-(3-Chlorophenyl)piperazine
meta-Chlorophenylpiperazine, m-CPPOpen in Piru
mCPP is a stimulant of the phenylpiperazine class.1 Thomas H. Wicker Jr. first synthesized it in 1951 during doctoral work at the University of Florida as a candidate antihistamine. Unlike many other stimulants, its effects are generally described as unpleasant. It can induce anxiety2, migraines3, and headaches.4 It has also been found in illicit products mixed with MDMA.4 It is also a metabolite of some commonly used antidepressants.
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.
Threshold15 mg
Light20-50 mg
Moderate50-120 mg
Strong120-150 mg
Heavy150+ mg
Duration
Onset20-60 minutes
Come Up20-60 minutes
Peak2-4 hours
Offset3-8 hours
Subjective Effects
Subjective Effects not written up yet
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
mCPP acts as a partial agonist at human 5-HT2C receptors and as an antagonist at human 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors. Its strongest receptor actions are reported at 5-HT2B and 5-HT2C, with 5-HT2C activation primarily mediating its discriminative cue. It also promotes serotonin release and inhibits serotonin reuptake.
Pharmacokinetics
mCPP is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2D6.8
Metabolitesnone documented yet
Dangerous
Highest riskThese combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.
Tolerance
Tolerance not written up yet
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
Extremely LowmCPP is not known to be addictive, though its addiction potential has not been formally studied. At common and high doses, it is generally regarded as aversive and dysphoria-producing, which likely limits compulsive redosing behavior.
Toxicity
Cardiovascular strain may occur during use, particularly at higher doses or when combined with other stimulants; the forced stimulation profile can increase heart rate and blood pressure.
mCPP is notable for inducing anxiety, migraines, and severe headaches, likely mediated through 5-HT2C receptor activity; these effects appear to be intrinsic to the substance rather than limited to excessive doses.
History & Culture
mCPP was first synthesized in 1951 by Thomas H. Wicker Jr. during his doctoral work at the University of Florida. Later in 2005 and during 2006, mCPP was increasingly found in combination with MDMA.4
Legality
By Country
Illegal12
AustriaIllegal (analog/blanket ban)Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Verordnung (NPSV), Anlage II Z 7, read with Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz (NPSG) §§ 3–522232425262728
mCPP is covered structurally, rather than expressly named, by Anlage II Z 7 of the Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Verordnung, which has encompassed compounds derivable from 1-phenylpiperazine with the listed substituents since 1 January 2012. Under section 4(1) of the Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz, production, import, export, supply, or procurement for another person is punishable only when undertaken both with intent to obtain an advantage and with intent that another person or a third party use the substance to achieve a psychoactive effect. That offence carries up to two years' imprisonment, or one to ten years if it causes death or serious bodily injury to a larger number of people. Simple possession for personal use is not a standalone criminal offence under section 4, although section 5 permits confiscation unless lawful use and safeguards against psychoactive use are established.
BelgiumIllegal (analog/blanket ban)Royal Decree of 6 September 2017 regulating narcotics and psychotropic substances, Annex IVa2930313233
The Royal Decree of 6 September 2017 covers mCPP through the generic phenylpiperazine definition in Annex IVa, piperazine class 6b, which encompasses its 3-chloro substituent. Since 26 September 2017, Article 6 has required prior authorization for possession, acquisition, import, export, transport, manufacture, production, sale, supply, and delivery, subject to licensed and professional exceptions.
BrazilIllegalPortaria SVS/MS nº 344, de 12 de maio de 1998, Anexo I, Lista F2, updated by Resolução da Diretoria Colegiada Anvisa nº 1.036, de 9 de julho de 20261516171819
mCPP is listed by exact name as 1-(3-clorofenil)piperazina (mCPP) in Lista F2 of Portaria SVS/MS nº 344, de 12 de maio de 1998. It has been included in Lista F2 since 5 November 2008. Production, manufacture, import, export, commerce, and use are prohibited, except for activities by authorized bodies and institutions conducted strictly for medical and scientific research; unauthorized acquisition, possession, storage, transport, sale, delivery, and supply are also controlled. Anvisa-authorized establishments may stock analytical standards for laboratory analysis, teaching, or research, and import or export authorization is not required for an mCPP analytical standard containing no more than 500 mg of controlled active substance per unit.
ChinaIllegalmCPP is listed by its exact name, 1-(3-Chlorophenyl)piperazine, and CAS number 6640-24-0 as item 101 in the 2025 Catalogue of Non-Medicinal Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. It has been controlled since 1 October 2015. Production, purchase or sale, transport, use, storage, import, and export are prohibited, subject to separate rules for scientific research, experiments, standards and reference materials, and pharmaceutical-production intermediates.
DenmarkIllegalBekendtgørelse om euforiserende stoffer, BEK nr. 405 af 26. marts 2026, bilag 1, liste B, nr. 2733435
mCPP (1-(3-chlorphenyl)piperazin) is listed at item 273 of List B in Bekendtgørelse om euforiserende stoffer, BEK nr. 405 af 26. marts 2026. List B substances may be used only for medical or scientific purposes, and possession and other dealings are permitted only under the order's prescription, institutional, pharmacy, or Danish Medicines Agency authorization rules. mCPP has been included in List B since 3 December 2005.
GermanyIllegalGesetz über den Verkehr mit Betäubungsmitteln (Betäubungsmittelgesetz – BtMG), Anlage II (zu § 1 Abs. 1)36373839
m-CPP, chemically 1-(3-Chlorphenyl)piperazin, is listed in Anlage II of the Betäubungsmittelgesetz as a marketable but non-prescribable narcotic. It was first added with effect from 1 March 2007 for one year and was subsequently placed permanently in Anlage II. Under § 29(1) BtMG, unauthorized cultivation, production, trade, import, export, sale, supply, acquisition, and procurement are punishable, as is possession without written authorization for acquisition, by imprisonment for up to five years or a fine. Under § 29(5) BtMG, a court may refrain from punishment in a personal-use case involving a small quantity.
GreeceIllegalmCPP is listed by its exact chemical name, CPP: 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine, in Table A of Greece's current controlled-substance tables. Under Article 2 of Law 4139/2013, production, possession, transport, storage, supply, processing, circulation, and trafficking mediation involving Table A substances are reserved exclusively to the State; import and export require authorization from the Ministry of Health.
HungaryIllegal78/2022. (XII. 28.) BM rendelet az ellenőrzött anyagokról, 2. melléklet, 1. pont (P1 jegyzék), 74. sor40414243
mCPP, identified as meta-chlorophenylpiperazine [1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine], is listed at row 74 of the P1 psychotropic-substances schedule in Annex 2 to 78/2022. (XII. 28.) BM rendelet az ellenőrzött anyagokról. Under section 3(1) of 66/2012. Korm. rendelet, production, manufacture, import, export, acquisition, distribution, storage, possession, handover, and use require an activity licence, subject to the decree's stated exceptions. Section 4(7) permits authorisation of P1 psychotropic-substance use only for research or industrial purposes, apart from the statutory exception it cites. mCPP has been listed by exact name in the P1 schedule since 22 December 2005; the current decree took effect on 1 January 2023.
JapanIllegalmCPP, under the name 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine and its salts, is designated as a narcotic by Article 1, item 31 of 麻薬、麻薬原料植物、向精神薬、麻薬向精神薬原料等を指定する政令（平成二年政令第二百三十八号）. The designation took effect on 13 October 2006. Import, manufacture, transfer, acquisition, and possession are restricted to licensed or otherwise authorized persons under the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act, subject to statutory exceptions.
LithuaniaIllegalLietuvos Respublikos sveikatos apsaugos ministro 2000 m. sausio 6 d. įsakymas Nr. 5 „Dėl Narkotinių ir psichotropinių medžiagų sąrašų patvirtinimo“, I sąrašas44454647
mCPP is listed by exact name as 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine in Lithuania's I sąrašas under the 1971 Convention Schedule I subsection, effective from 15 July 2006. Lawful circulation, including production, processing, acquisition, sale, possession, supply, domestic transport, import, and export, is prohibited except for the specified medicinal-product, scientific-research, government, and reference-material uses.
SwitzerlandIllegalVerordnung des EDI vom 30. Mai 2011 über die Verzeichnisse der Betäubungsmittel, psychotropen Stoffe, Vorläuferstoffe und Hilfschemikalien (Betäubungsmittelverzeichnisverordnung, BetmVV-EDI), Anhang 5, Verzeichnis d484950
mCPP is listed as m-Chlorphenylpiperazin (m-CPP) in Annex 5, Verzeichnis d, of the Betäubungsmittelverzeichnisverordnung; the instrument also cross-references 1-(3-Chlorphenyl)piperazin to the same entry. Verzeichnis d comprises prohibited controlled substances, so cultivation, import, manufacture and placing on the market are generally forbidden, although the Federal Office of Public Health may authorize dealings for certain purposes under exceptional permit rules.
United KingdomIllegalMisuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2 Part III paragraph 1(ca); Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, Schedule 4 Part I; Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002, Schedule 4 Part I6465666768697071
1-(3-Chlorophenyl)piperazine (mCPP) has been a Class C controlled drug throughout the United Kingdom since 23 December 2009. It is covered by the generic definition in Schedule 2 Part III paragraph 1(ca) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 for compounds structurally derived from 1-phenylpiperazine by aromatic-ring substitution with a halide. The current Schedule 4 Part I of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 also names mCPP exactly for England, Wales and Scotland, while the Northern Ireland regulations contain the parallel Schedule 4 Part I entry. Its controlled status applies to possession, possession with intent to supply, production, supply, and offering to supply; Schedule 4 Part I does not exempt possession.
Controlled / restricted5
FinlandmCPP is a controlled substance.
NorwaymCPP is a controlled substance.
PolandmCPP is a controlled substance.
RussiamCPP is a controlled substance.
SwedenmCPP is a controlled substance.Not scheduled1
United StatesNot scheduledmCPP, also known as 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine, is not listed in federal Schedules I through V under 21 CFR Part 1308 or as a List I or List II regulated chemical. Its unscheduled status does not preclude case-specific treatment under the Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement Act, which requires the substance to satisfy the statutory definition and exclusions and applies Schedule I treatment only to the extent that the substance is intended for human consumption. No federal scheduling rule or judicial opinion specifically classifies mCPP as a controlled-substance analogue of BZP.
References
Source Pages
Citations
Further Reading
Bossong et al. 2010: mCPP Ecstasy Market Study- Gijsman et al. 2002: Pharmacokinetic Profile of mCPP
- Kennett et al. 1989: Anxiogenic Effects of mCPP
NCATS Inxight Drugs: mCPP Monograph
PDSP Ki Database: mCPP Receptor Binding
Release UK: mCPP Pharmacology- Bossong et al. 2005 - Methylone and mCPP, two new drugs of abuse?
Article Status
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