4-AcO-DET

4-AcO-DET (4-acetoxy-N,N-diethyltryptamine), also known as ethacetin or 4-acetoxy-DET, is a synthetic psychedelic tryptamine that functions as a prodrug for its 4-hydroxy analog, 4-HO-DET. It belongs to the acetylated psilocybin analog family — a group of compounds that are structurally related to psilocybin and metabolize to pharmacologically active 4-hydroxy tryptamines upon ingestion. First described in the scientific literature by Albert Hofmann and Franz Troxler in 1963, 4-AcO-DET occupies a relatively obscure position in the tryptamine family despite sharing a mechanism of action with psilocybin and the better-known 4-AcO-DMT.

The experience profile of 4-AcO-DET is broadly psychedelic in character — users report visual geometry, emotional amplification, introspective depth, and alterations in the perception of time — but with a character described by many as somewhat warmer and more visual than 4-AcO-DMT at equivalent doses. Community experience reports frequently emphasize aesthetic beauty: enhanced appreciation of art, music, and natural environments features prominently. The compound is generally considered to sit in the middle of the tryptamine potency range, with active doses typically falling between 10–25 mg orally.

As with other 4-AcO compounds, 4-AcO-DET produces effects comparable to psilocybin mushrooms in character, with the acetylation serving primarily to improve oral bioavailability relative to the free 4-HO compound. The duration is typically 4–6 hours — somewhat shorter than LSD or 2C-B, making it a practical choice for experienced users seeking a full but temporally bounded psychedelic experience.