Ethylone, also known as 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylcathinone (MDEC, βk-MDEA), is a
recreational designer drug classified as an entactogen, stimulant, and psychedelic
of the phenethylamine, amphetamine, and cathinone chemical classes. It is the β-keto
analogue of MDEA (“Eve”). Ethylone has only a short history of human use and is
reported to be less potent than its relative methylone.citation needed In the
United States, it began to be found in cathinone products in late 2011.

Very little data exists about the pharmacological properties, metabolism, and
toxicity of ethylone, and although several ethylone-related deaths have been
reported, but the cause of death was not due to ingestion of ethylone.