Ammonia methamphetamine

Ammonia Methamphetamine Laboratory using Nazi or Birch Method... 

Expect to find the following in an ammonia methamphetamine laboratory using the Nazi or Birch Method ... 

Reduction of phenylacetone in the presence of methylamine rather than ammonia gives methamphetamine (53), an agent similar in action to the primary amine. Alkylation of 53 with benzyl chloride affords the analog, benzphetamine (54). ... 

A common illicit synthesis of methamphetamine involves an interesting variation of the Birch reduction. A solution of ephedrine in alcohol is added to liquid ammonia, followed by several pieces of lithium metal. The Birch reduction usually reduces the aromatic ring (Section 17-14C), but in this case it eliminates the hydroxyl group of ephedrine to give methamphetamine. Propose a mechanism, similar to that for the Birch reduction, to explain this unusual course of the reaction. 

This is an example of domestic terrorism, and it could happen in almost any community. Anhydrous ammonia is commonly used in agriculture, in the refrigeration industry, and in fertilizer production. It is also used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, so it is commonly in the possession of criminals. Anhydrous ammonia is extremely caustic to the eyes and respiratory system. People with respiratory disease are especially in danger from this chemical. 

Valves may be left open or broken off, and large amounts of the product may be released. Individuals involved in the theft can be injured or killed. Persons with cryogenic injuries (cold injuries to the skin—these look like regular thermal bums) or lung injuries involving ammonia may be involved in the manufacture of methamphetamine. 

Anhydrous ammonia is a corrosive toxic substance. It can cause frostbite when it evaporates from exposed skin. Ammonia is a potent skin corrosive and harms exposed eye tissue. Because of its high water solubility, inhaled ammonia is absorbed by the moist tissues of the upper respiratory tract. Inhalation of ammonia causes constriction of the bronchioles and can cause lung edema (fluid accumulation) and changes in lung permeability. Anhydrous liquid ammonia stored in tanks has been a favorite target of operators of illicit meth labs in rural areas who use it in the synthesis of methamphetamines. Certainly, many of the thieves are harmed by exposure to ammonia, but they rarely seek treatment for the injury. 

Two methods that have been described both involve the reduction of ephedrine (itself readily available) using either lithium in liquid ammonia as the reducing agent, or else red phosphorus and iodine to generate hydrogen iodide for the reduction. Ephedrine has a chiral carbon atom, and is found in nature as a single isomer, so the methamphetamine made from it is also just the one isomer. As it happens, this is the isomer associated with stimulant properties. 

M7 Methamphetamine via Birch reduction Ephedrine Ammonia Ammonium chloride Eithium or sodium Sodium chloride Tetrahydrofuran... 

A number of phenylisopropylamines which are resistant to degradation by monoamine oxidase are oxidatively deaminated by microsomal enzymes. Among the substrates for this reaction are amphetamine, methamphetamine, ephedrine, and norephedrine the products are a ketone and ammonia ... 

Figure 2.1 Comparison of El (a) and Cl (b and c) mass spectra of methamphetamine (mol wt = 149 Da). The Cl gas was methane and ammonia in case of (b) and (c), respectively, resulting in different degrees of dissociation. While the El mass spectrum does not contain the molecular ion at m/z 149, Cl gave rise to the [M + H] ion at m/z 150 using both reagent gases.

The following chiral reagents were employed for diastereomer formation before sample application and chromatography on silica gel or silica gel G TLC plates (L)-leucine Af-carboxyanhydride for D,L-dopa-carboxyl- " C separated with ethyl acetate/formic acid/water (60 5 35) mobile phase and detected by ninhydrin [7 f 0.38 (d)/0.56 (l)] [43] Af-trifluoroacetyl-L-prolyl chloride for D,L-amphetamine separated with chloroform/methanol (197 3) and detected by sulfuric acid/formaldehyde (10 1) (Rf 0.49 (d)/0.55 (l)) [44] Af-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-prolyl chloride for D,L-methamphetamine separated with n-hexane/ethyl acetate/acetonitrile/diisopropyl ether (2 2 2 1) and detected by sulfuric acid/formaldehyde (10 1) [/ f 0.57 (l)/0.61 (d)] [44] (l/ ,2/ )-(-)-l-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-amino-1,3-propanediol (levobase) and its enantiomer dextrobase for chiral carboxylic acids separated with chloroform/ethanol/acetic acid (9 1 0.5) and detected under UV (254 nm) light R[ values 0.63 and 0.53 for 5- and / -naproxen, respectively) [45] (5)-(4-)-a-methoxyphenylacetic acid for R,S-ethyl-4-(dimethylamino)-3-hydroxybutanoate (carnitine precursor) with diethyl ether mobile phase [/ f 0.55 R)/0J9 (5)] [46] and (5)-(4-)-benoxaprofen chloride with toluene/acetone (100 10, ammonia atmosphere) mobile phase and fluorescence visualization (Zeiss KM 3 densitometer 313 nm excitation, 365 nm emission) (respective R values of R- and 5-isomers of metoprolol, oxprenolol, and propranolol were 0.24/0.28, 0.32/0.38, and 0.32/0.39) [47]. 

---