The related compound without the N-methyl group is part of a group of VMAT-2 (vesicular monamine transporter 2 ) inhibitors, the 3-amino-2-phenylpropenes. These should work to prevent VMAT-2 from taking cytosolic monoamines up into vesicles. They may even with appropriate substitution reverse VMAT-2. Both Methamphetamine and MDMA are known to alter VMAT activity and the ability of the vesicles to suck monoamines back into the vesicles. this combined with monoamine transport reversal pups monoamines out into the synapse.
I do not know whether they cause dumping of the vesicle contents by this mechanism alone rather than by the weak amine mechanism or some other mechanism as yet unknown
I was quite interested in these for a while, in particular the 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl analog along with the potentially psychedelic 4-something 2,5-dimethoxy analogs I would expect that the methoxy substituted compounds would not retain VMAT activity whereas the 3,4-methylenedioxy would. If they do not have significant VMAT activity the potential psychedelic betamethylene compounds might have a future. this is pharmacological terra incognita and not somewhere I would want to go without animal tox testing.
The evidence as to the desirability of inhibiting VMAT and therefore increasing intracellular monoamine concentration is mixed. short term it probably does limited harm and it does seem to be part of the reason for the effects of MDMA/
the bad news:
1) Reserpine which is known to inhibit VMAT causing depletion of monamines in vesicles and is linked to severe depression, approximately 1 in 5 when it was widely used. Tetrabenazine another VMAT inhibitor is also linked to suicide and depression
2) The increased concentration of cytosolic monamines appears to be important in the neurotoxic effects of METH and MDMA.
3) Reduction in measurable VMAT is linked to depression and appears to play a part in the craving in cocaine addiction
for those interested:
the Bovine chromaffin transporter used in the study below is very similar to VMAT-2.
Perera R, Wimalasena DS, Kandatege W. Characterization of a series of 3-amino-2-phenylpropene derivatives as novel bovine chromaffin vesicular monoamine transporter inhibitors. J Med Chem. 2003;46: 2599-2605.