4-EMC is a research chemical that can be used as a supplementary chemical for studies in a controlled laboratory setting. 4-EMC is also known by other names including street names such as meow meow, 4-Ethylmethcathinone, and M-CAT. 4-EMC is structurally related to 4-MEC and is found in the cathinone and amphetamine family. Manufacturers that develop 4-EMC for study created the chemical from synthetic compounds and list it as a strong entactogen and stimulant chemical.

All research chemicals in this family have a phenethylamine core that also has a phenyl ring that is attached to an amino group via an ethyl chain but also has an extra substitution of methyl at Ra.

Cathinone and amphetamine chemicals have an extra group of carbonyl at R1. 4-EMC is very closely related to Mephedrone which also has an extra substitution of methyl at RN and a phenyl ring at R4 which also makes it related to methamphetamine and MDMA.

In scientific research reports, 4-EMC is believed to release noradrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine while also inhibiting the reuptake of these monoamine neurotransmitters. Even though there is very little research published on 4-EMC, mephedrone has been studied in laboratories. Reports released in 2011 showed the effects of this compound on rat brains which showed the potency of mephedrone. In the data, it showed that there was an increase in dopamine in the brain of 500 percent and an increase of serotonin in the brain of 950 percent. The peak was reached at forty minutes and twenty minutes and the baseline was achieved 2 hours after the injection of mephedrone.

At this time, 4-EMC is listed with other research chemicals and is not intended for human consumption. Some countries have these research chemicals and analogs listed as controlled substances which include the state of Vermont in the United States, Denmark, and in the United Kingdom 4-EMC is classified as a Class B drug. Until further data is compiled, 4-EMC should be studied in controlled laboratories and should not be used outside of a laboratory setting.