4. What is Molly Molly or MDMA is one of the most popular recreational psychoactives, most commonly sold in the form of "ecstasy" tablets. It is known for its empathogenic, euphoric, and stimulant effects, and has also been used in psychotherapy. Its chemical name is methylenedioxymethamphetamine, but it is more commonly referred to as MDMA. It was first synthesized in 1912 by German chemist Anton Köllisch, but usage of the stimulant didn't really begin taking off until the 1970s, when pharmacologist Alexander Shulgin resynthesized the chemical to share with his friends, particularly psychotherapist Leo Zeff.