List of psychedelic chemists

This is a '''list of psychedelic chemists''', or of chemists who first identified, isolated, and/or synthesized specific psychedelic drugs or otherwise contributed to psychedelic chemistry:<ref name="WalkerPullellaPiggott2023">{{cite journal | last1=Walker | first1=Scott R. | last2=Pullella | first2=Glenn A. | last3=Piggott | first3=Matthew J. | last4=Duggan | first4=Peter J. | title=Introduction to the chemistry and pharmacology of psychedelic drugs | journal=Australian Journal of Chemistry | volume=76 | issue=5 | date=5 July 2023 | issn=0004-9425 | doi=10.1071/CH23050 | doi-access=free | pages=236–257 | url=https://www.publish.csiro.au/ch/pdf/CH23050 | access-date=19 October 2025}}</ref>

* Albert Hofmann – discovered LSD, isolated psilocybin from psilocybin-containing mushrooms and ergine (LSA) from morning glory, developed numerous lysergamides and some psilocybin analogues * Alexander Shulgin – developed numerous psychedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines<ref name="PiHKAL">{{CitePiHKAL}}</ref><ref name="TiHKAL">{{CiteTiHKAL}}</ref> * Anton Köllisch – synthesized MDMA * Arthur Heffter – isolated mescaline from peyote * Carl Mannich – synthesized MDA * Charles D. Nichols – developed certain medically intended psychedelics such as 2C-iBu * Daniel Trachsel – developed numerous psychedelic phenethylamines<ref name="Trachsel2012">{{cite journal | vauthors = Trachsel D | title = Fluorine in psychedelic phenethylamines | journal = Drug Test Anal | volume = 4 | issue = 7–8 | pages = 577–590 | date = 2012 | pmid = 22374819 | doi = 10.1002/dta.413 | url = https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=c7b41be36b1f580a264a752521d151e6e2d9409d | url-access = subscription }}</ref><ref name="TrachselLehmannEnzensperger2013">{{cite book | last1=Trachsel | first1=D. | last2=Lehmann | first2=D. | last3=Enzensperger | first3=C. | title=Phenethylamine: von der Struktur zur Funktion | trans-title = Phenethylamines: From Structure to Function | edition = 1 | publisher=Nachtschatten-Verlag | location = Solothurn | series=Nachtschatten-Science | year=2013 | isbn=978-3-03788-700-4 | oclc = 858805226 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Us1kgEACAAJ | language=de | archive-url=https://archive.org/details/phenethylamine-von-der-struktur-zur-funktion-trachsel-lehmann-enzensperger-2013 | archive-date=21 August 2025}}</ref><ref name="KolaczynskaLuethiTrachsel2021">{{cite journal | vauthors = Kolaczynska KE, Luethi D, Trachsel D, Hoener MC, Liechti ME | title = Receptor Interaction Profiles of 4-Alkoxy-3,5-Dimethoxy-Phenethylamines (Mescaline Derivatives) and Related Amphetamines | journal = Front Pharmacol | volume = 12 | issue = | article-number = 794254 | date = 2021 | pmid = 35222010 | pmc = 8865417 | doi = 10.3389/fphar.2021.794254 | doi-access = free | url = https://edoc.unibas.ch/87985/1/fphar-12-794254.pdf }}</ref> * Darrell Lemaire – studied 2C-D as a "smart drug" and developed the TWEETIO psychedelics<ref name="Erowid-Lemaire">{{cite web | title=Erowid Darrell Lemaire Vault | website=erowid.org | url=https://erowid.org/culture/characters/lemaire_darrell/lemaire_darrell.shtml | access-date=14 November 2025}}</ref><ref name="Morris2016-S01E06">{{cite episode | credits = Morris H | date = 7 December 2016 | title = The Lazy Lizard School of Hedonism | series = Hamilton's Pharmacopeia | season = 1 | number = 6 | url = https://vimeo.com/546752807| publisher = Vice Media | network = Viceland}}</ref><ref name="Nez2010">{{cite book | author = Hosteen Nez (Darrell Lemaire) | chapter = Notes About Psychoactive Compounds | pages = 201–207 | editor1-last = Targ | editor1-first = Russell | editor2-last = Radin | editor2-first = Dean | title = Radiant Minds: Scientists Explore the Dimensions of Consciousness | publisher = Millay | date = 2010 | isbn = 978-0-615-29633-3 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bF-jcQAACAAJ | chapter-url = https://erowid.org/culture/characters/lemaire_darrell/lemaire_darrell_article1.pdf}}</ref><ref name="LazarNez1990">{{citation | author1 = Lazar (Darrell Lemaire) | author2 = Hosteen Nez | title = Certain Exotic Transmitters as Smart Pills or Compounds that Increase the Capacity for Mental Work in Humans: A Story About LAZAR as Told by Hosteen Nez | edition = 2 | date = 1990 | url = https://erowid.org/chemicals/2cd/2cd_smartpills1.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010709231503/http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/2cd/2cd_smartpills1.shtml | archive-date = 9 July 2001}}</ref> * David E. Nichols – developed numerous psychedelic phenethylamines, tryptamines, and lysergamides * David E. Olson – founder of Delix Therapeutics, developed various psychedelic-related drugs such as tabernanthalog, zalsupindole, and JRT * David Repke – developed numerous psychedelic tryptamines<ref name="KleinChathaLaskowski2021">{{cite journal | vauthors = Klein AK, Chatha M, Laskowski LJ, Anderson EI, Brandt SD, Chapman SJ, McCorvy JD, Halberstadt AL | title = Investigation of the Structure-Activity Relationships of Psilocybin Analogues | journal = ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci | volume = 4 | issue = 2 | pages = 533–542 | date = April 2021 | pmid = 33860183 | pmc = 8033608 | doi = 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00176 | url = | quote = Repke synthesized several other psilocin homologues, including 4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine (4-HO-MET), 4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine (4-HO-MIPT), 4-hydroxy-N,N-dipropyltryptamine (4-HO-DPT), and 4-hydroxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (4-HO-DIPT).63,64}}</ref> * Ernst Späth – synthesized mescaline * Gordon Alles – discovered the effects of MDA (the first synthetic psychedelic) and other work * Hamilton Morris – developed various psychedelics<ref name="WallachCaoCalkins2023" /> * Jason Wallach – developed various psychedelics<ref name="WallachCaoCalkins2023">{{cite journal | vauthors = Wallach J, Cao AB, Calkins MM, Heim AJ, Lanham JK, Bonniwell EM, Hennessey JJ, Bock HA, Anderson EI, Sherwood AM, Morris H, de Klein R, Klein AK, Cuccurazzu B, Gamrat J, Fannana T, Zauhar R, Halberstadt AL, McCorvy JD | title = Identification of 5-HT2A receptor signaling pathways associated with psychedelic potential | journal = Nat Commun | volume = 14 | issue = 1 | pages = 8221 | date = December 2023 | pmid = 38102107 | pmc = 10724237 | doi = 10.1038/s41467-023-44016-1 | url = }}</ref> * J. Andrew Jones – developed biosynthetic methods from the production of various tryptamine psychedelics<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Adams |first=Alexandra M. |last2=Kaplan |first2=Nicholas A. |last3=Wei |first3=Zhangyue |last4=Brinton |first4=John D. |last5=Monnier |first5=Chantal S. |last6=Enacopol |first6=Alexis L. |last7=Ramelot |first7=Theresa A. |last8=Jones |first8=J. Andrew |date=2019-12-01 |title=In vivo production of psilocybin in E. coli |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109671761930309X |journal=Metabolic Engineering |volume=56 |pages=111–119 |doi=10.1016/j.ymben.2019.09.009 |issn=1096-7176|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Friedberg |first=Lucas M. |last2=Sen |first2=Abhishek K. |last3=Nguyen |first3=Quynh |last4=Tonucci |first4=Gabriel P. |last5=Hellwarth |first5=Elle B. |last6=Gibbons |first6=William J. |last7=Jones |first7=J. Andrew |date=2023-07-01 |title=“In vivo biosynthesis of N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 5-MeO-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and bufotenine in E. coli” |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1096717623000782 |journal=Metabolic Engineering |volume=78 |pages=61–71 |doi=10.1016/j.ymben.2023.05.006 |issn=1096-7176|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Keller |first=Madeleine R. |last2=McKinney |first2=Madeline G. |last3=Sen |first3=Abhishek K. |last4=Guagliardo |first4=Felicia G. |last5=Hellwarth |first5=Elle B. |last6=Islam |first6=Khondokar Nowshin |last7=Kaplan |first7=Nicholas A. |last8=Gibbons |first8=William J. |last9=Kemmerly |first9=Grace E. |last10=Meers |first10=Chance |last11=Wang |first11=Xin |last12=Jones |first12=J. Andrew |date=2025-09-01 |title=Psilocybin biosynthesis enhancement through gene source optimization |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1096717625000679 |journal=Metabolic Engineering |volume=91 |pages=119–129 |doi=10.1016/j.ymben.2025.04.003 |issn=1096-7176|url-access=subscription }}</ref> * Lizard Labs (Alexander Stratford) – developed numerous LSD prodrugs such as 1P-LSD and 1V-LSD * Louis Lewin – attempted to isolate mescaline from peyote * M. Mueller – described the properties and effects of 2C-EF and 2C-iBu in humans and disclosed them via Alexander Shulgin<ref name="ShulginManningDaley2011">{{cite book | last1=Shulgin | first1=A. | last2=Manning | first2=T. | last3=Daley | first3=P.F. | title=The Shulgin Index, Volume One: Psychedelic Phenethylamines and Related Compounds | publisher=Transform Press | location=Berkeley | volume=1 | year=2011 | isbn=978-0-9630096-3-0}}</ref> * Matthew J. Baggott – founder of Tactogen, developed novel entactogens and psychedelics * Oswaldo Gonçalves de Lima – isolated DMT * Otakar Leminger – developed escaline, proscaline, allylescaline, and MEPEA among others<ref name="PiHKAL" /><ref name="countyourculture2012">{{cite web | author=countyourculture | title=Leminger’s Scalines | website=countyourculture | date=4 May 2012 | url=https://isomerdesign.com/countyourculture/2012/05/04/leminger-allylescaline/}}</ref><ref name="Leminger1972a">{{cite journal | author = Otakar Leminger | title = Příspěvek k chemii v jádře alkoxylovaných β-fenoetylaminů – I | trans-title = A Contribution to the chemistry of alkoxylated phenethylamines – part 1 | journal = Chemický Průmysl | volume = 22 | issue = | date = 1972 | page = 496– | url = }}</ref><ref name="Leminger1972b">{{cite journal | author = Otakar Leminger | title = Příspěvek k chemii v jádře alkoxylovaných β-fenoetylaminů – II: O některých v jádře alkoxylovaných β-fenoetylaminech, resp. jejich sulfátech | trans-title = A Contribution to the chemistry of alkoxylated phenethylamines – part 2: On some core-alkoxylated β-phenethylamines and their sulfates | journal = Chemický Průmysl | volume = 22 | issue = | date = 1972 | page = 553–557 | url = https://isomerdesign.com/bitnest/external/ChemickyPrumysl/22.553 | archive-url = https://www.erowid.org/archive/rhodium/chemistry/leminger.html | archive-date = 17 February 2026}}</ref> * P. Rausch – developed various psychedelic phenethylamines and disclosed many of them via Daniel Trachsel<ref name="Trachsel2012" /><ref name="TrachselLehmannEnzensperger2013" /><ref name="Rausch1995">{{cite book | editor1-last = Leuner | editor1-first = Hanscarl | editor2-last = Schlichting | editor2-first = Michael | editor3 = European College for the Study of Consciousness | last = Rausch | first = P. | title = Jahrbuch des Europäischen Collegiums für Bewußtseinsstudien: 1995 | trans-title = Yearbook of the European College for the Study of Consciousness: 1995 | volume = 4 | location = Berlin | date = January 1995 | publisher = VWB | isbn = 978-3861354079 | issn = 0942-7600 | oclc = 28636362 | language = de, en}}</ref> * Peyton Jacob III – worked with Alexander Shulgin developing psychedelics * Ralf Heim – developed 25I-NBOMe and other psychedelic ''N''-benzylphenethylamines * Richard Glennon – developed numerous psychedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines * Richard Manske – synthesized DMT and identified and synthesized harmine and harmaline<ref name="PSR-Manske">{{cite web | last=Shulman | first=Elise | title=Richard Manske | website=Psychedelic Science Review | date=8 February 2021 | url=https://psychedelicreview.com/person/richard-manske/ | access-date=9 March 2026}}</ref><ref name="Barker2018">{{cite journal | vauthors = Barker SA | title = N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), an Endogenous Hallucinogen: Past, Present, and Future Research to Determine Its Role and Function | journal = Front Neurosci | volume = 12 | issue = | pages = 536 | date = 2018 | pmid = 30127713 | pmc = 6088236 | doi = 10.3389/fnins.2018.00536 | doi-access = free| url =| quote = In terms of Western culture, DMT was first synthesized by a Canadian chemist, Richard Manske, in 1931 (Manske, 1931) but was, at the time, not assessed for human pharmacological effects. In 1946 the microbiologist Oswaldo Gonçalves de Lima discovered DMT's natural occurrence in plants (Goncalves de Lima, 1946). DMT's hallucinogenic properties were not discovered until 1956 when Stephen Szara, a pioneering Hungarian chemist and psychiatrist, extracted DMT from the Mimosa hostilis plant and administered the extract to himself intramuscularly (Szára, 1956).}}</ref><ref name="Manske1931">{{cite journal | last=Manske | first=Richard H. F. | title=A Synthesis of the Methyltryptamines and Some Derivatives | journal=Canadian Journal of Research | volume=5 | issue=5 | date=1 November 1931 | issn=1923-4287 | doi=10.1139/cjr31-097 | pages=592–600 | url=http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/10.1139/cjr31-097 | access-date=9 March 2026| url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="Manske1927">{{cite journal | last1=Manske | first1=Richard Helmuth Fred | last2=Perkin | first2=William Henry | last3=Robinson | first3=Robert | title=I.—Harmine and harmaline. Part IX. A synthesis of harmaline | journal=J. Chem. Soc. | volume=0 | issue=0 | date=1927 | issn=0368-1769 | doi=10.1039/JR9270000001 | pages=1–14 | url=https://xlink.rsc.org/?DOI=JR9270000001 | access-date=9 March 2026| url-access=subscription }}</ref> * Robert Oberlender – a student in the lab of David E. Nichols who developed and studied various psychedelics and entactogens * Stephen Szára – discovered the effects of DMT, developed various psychedelic DMT analogues * Toshio Hoshino – synthesized bufotenin and 5-MeO-DMT * William Leonard Pickard – manufactured LSD and tested other psychedelics like 5-fluoro-AMT, 6-fluoro-AMT, and likely LSZ

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Lists of chemists Category:Psychedelic chemists Category:Psychedelic drug research