Methamphetamines

The metabolism of amphetamine has been studied in those presenting with amphetamine psychosis. In the presence of acidified urine, the renal elimination of amphetamine increased significantly. The intensity of the psychosis was found to correlate with the amount of basic polar metabolites excreted in the urine, such as norephedrine and p-hydroxyamphetamine, and not with the plasma amphetamine concentration. This suggests that these metabolites may play an important role in the development of paranoid psychosis in chronic amphetamine users.6 

D-Methamphetamine, the AZ-methyl derivative of amphetamine, was first synthesized in 1919. Methamphetamine is available in the d- and l-forms. The D-form has reportedly greater central stimulant activity than the L-isomer, which has greater peripheral sympathomimetic activity. The D-form is the commonly abused form while the L-isomer is typically found in nonprescription inhalers as a decongestant. 

Although initially available as an injectable solution for the treatment of obesity, D-metham-phetamine hydrochloride is currently available as conventional and prolonged release tablets. Illicit methamphetamine is synthesized from the precursors phenylacetone and iV -methylformamide (dl mixture) or alternatively from ephedrine or pseudoephedrine by red phosphorus/acid reduction. 

Doses of 5 to 10 mg methamphetamine typically result in blood concentrations between 20 and 60 ng/ml. In one study,10 six healthy adults were orally administered a single dose of 0.125 mg/kg methamphetamine. Peak plasma concentrations were achieved at 3.6 h with a mean concentration of 20 ng/ml. In a second study, Lebish et al.11 observed a peak blood concentration of 30 ng/ml, 1 h after a single oral dose of 10 mg methamphetamine to one subject. In a study by Schepers et al.,12 eight subjects were administered four oral doses of 10 mg methamphetamine hydrochloride as sustained release tablets within 7 days. Three weeks later five subjects received four oral 20-mg doses. After the first dose, methamphetamine was detected in plasma between 0.25 and 2 h the cmax was 14.5 to 33.8 ng/ml (10-mg dose) and 26.2 to 44.3 ng/ml (20-mg) and occurred within 2 to 12 h. Methamphetamine was first detected in oral fluid in this study 0.08 to 2 h post dose, with a cmax of 24.7 to 312.2 and 75.3 to 321.7 ng/ml after the 10- and 20-mg doses, respectively. Peak methamphetamine concentrations in oral fluid occurred at 2 to 12 h and the median oral fluid-plasma concentration ratio was 2.0 for 24 h. In general, the detection window for drug in oral fluid exceeded that in plasma. 

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Those propylene species that the authors were using are no different than safrole or aiiyibenzene. In fact, safrole is a perfect substitute. Yowza Those recipes look awesome Now as Strike understands it, there has already been a detailed writeup of the by-the-numbers application of the above patent as written. This, Strike beiieves, can be found in Uncle Fester s Secrets of LSD Manufacture and/or Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufac-ture [18]. But our adventurous chemist Suniight came thru again and submitted a new, hybrid form of this method which she seems to have formulated after a lot of thought on the matter. So here again is Suniight ... 

Apart from the academic literature, one should read the book "Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture" by Uncle Fester [18], This book explains all about the in-home applications of these pressure methods. Strike, however, emphasizes reactions that are purely chemical. 

One cannot directly make a methamphetamine from a p-Nitropropene, But who needs em anyway when MDA and Benzedrine will do very nicely, thank you. Below is the no-brainer schematic for the conversion ... 

That means that this method is a neat little way one can get the ever lovely MDEA (Methylenedioxyethyl amphetamine, the softer cousin of X). Strike hears you asking So if one uses lithium tri-methylborohydride can one get methamphetamine out of that nitro group . Good question. Unfortunately the answer is no. The authors say Interestingly, N-alkylated products were not produced when other alkylborohydrides were used." Fair enough. Here s the recipe ... 

Fester, U., "Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture, (4th Ed., Loompanics, Port Townsend, Washington, 1996)... 

Methamphetannne is a notorious street drug One synthesis involves reductive amination of benzyl methyl ketone with methylamine What is the structure of methamphetamine ... 

Physical evidence serves two purposes. In some cases it is used to prove a component or element of a crime. Eor example, in a case involving trafficking in cocaine [50-36-2] the prosecutor must prove that the white powder found in the criminal s possession was cocaine (Table 1). The forensic chemist tests the substance and issues a report. If the powder is methamphetamine [537-46-2] the charge must be amended. 

The most common illicit dmgs ia the United States today are heroin, cocaine, marijuana, hashish, phenycHdine, LSD, and methamphetamine. These make up at least 90% of the total dmgs seized. 

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). ... 

Levonordefrine Mephentermine Metaramino1 Methamphetamine A-Norepinephrine Phenylephrine... 

Figure 11.14 Analysis of amphetamines by GC-NPD following HS-SPME exti action from human hair (a) Normal hair (b) normal hair after addition of amphetamine (1.5 ng) and methamphetamine (16.1 ng) (c) hair of an amphetamine abuser. Peak identification is as follows 1, a-phenethylamine (internal standard) 2, amphetamine 3, methamphetamine 4, N-propyl-/3-phenethyamine (internal standard). Reprinted from Journal of Chronatography, B 707,1. Koide et ai, Determination of amphetamine and methamphetamine in human hair by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas cliromatography with niti ogen-phosphoms detection, pp. 99 -104, copyright 1998, with permission from Elsevier Science.

I. Koide, O. Noguclii, K. Okada, A. Yokoyama, H. Oda, S. Yamamoto and H. Kataoka, Detemination of amphetamine and methamphetamine in human hak by headspace solid-phase microexti action and gas cliromatogi aphy with niti ogen-phosphorus detection , J. Chromatogr. B707 99-104(1998). 

Monoamine Oxidases and their Inhibitors. Figure 2 Structures of MAO inhibitors. In the top row, the structural similarity between selegiline/L-deprenyl and methamphetamine is shown. Below are the aminoindan series of propargylamine compounds such as rasagiline. Next, the bifunctional MAO and cholinesterase inhibitors (ladostigil) and lastly, the iron chelator-MAO inhibitors. 

H.17 The psychoactive drug sold as methampheramine ( speed ), CI0H,N, undergoes a series of reactions in the body the net result of these reactions is the oxidation of solid methamphetamine by oxygen gas to produce carbon dioxide gas, liquid water, and nitrogen gas. Write the balanced equation for this net reaction. 

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