APPLYING THE SCIENCE 8.5 Phosphine Gas Fatalities

Phosphine gas is a highly toxic substance produced by the red-cook method of clandestine methamphetamine synthesis. The gas itself is odorless, but associated by-px)ducts lend a fishy gcirlicky odor to the solution, detectable in the concentration rainge at which toxic effects are manifest. Death has been reported within 30 minutes at concentrations in the 

Source Wiilers-Russo, L. J. Three Fatalities Involving Phospine Gas, Produced as a Result of Methamphetamine Manufacturing. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 441999,647-652. 

The solution turns a grayish color as the reaction proceeds. The metham-phetamine that is generated is converted to its salt by bubbling HCl(g) through the solvent The advantages of the Birch method are its ability to boU off excess ammonia and its simple decomposition of residual lithium metal by water. The disadvantage is the need for anhydrous ammonia, which can be hazardous, explosive, corrosive, and difficult to handle. 

Stereochemistty and PrcfiUng Since methamphetamine has a chiral carbon at the /3 position relative to the benzene ring, d- and 1-isomers can be produced. The d-form of methamphetamine is the more active, so clandestine syntheses are 

Anewcomer on the stimulant scene is a drug called cat, which is not the same drug as khat Cat is the street name for methcathinone, another member of the methamphetamine family that produces similar effects and is listed on Schedule I. 

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