Synthesis and organic impurity profiling of 4-methoxymethamphetamine hydrochloride and its precursors

Tam, R; Heather, E; Shimmon, R; Lam, B; McDonagh, AM

Synthesis and organic impurity profiling of 4-methoxymethamphetamine hydrochloride and its precursors

Tam, R Heather, E Shimmon, R

Lam, B McDonagh, AM

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Forensic Science International, 2017, 272 pp. 184 - 189
Issue Date:: 2017-03-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Tam, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Heather, E	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Shimmon, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8763-991X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lam, B	en_US
dc.contributor.author	McDonagh, AM https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9502-1175	en_US
dc.date.available	2016-11-28	en_US
dc.date.issued	2017-03-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Forensic Science International, 2017, 272 pp. 184 - 189	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0379-0738	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/90029
dc.description.abstract	© 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd 4-Methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) was synthesised from star anise and from 4-methoxytoluene and the organic impurity profiles examined. These two starting materials are unrestricted chemicals in many jurisdictions and contain the requisite functional groups and are thus well suited for clandestine manufacturers. trans-Anethole was extracted from star anise and oxidised to 4-methoxyphenyl-2-propanone (PMP2P). 4-Methoxytoluene was oxidised to anisaldehyde, converted to 4-methoxyphenyl-2-nitropropene, and then reduced to PMP2P. The PMP2P obtained by both methods was then converted to PMMA via the Leuckart reaction. 4-Methoxymethamphetamine hydrochloride (PMMA·HCl) was synthesised from PMMA using hydrogen chloride gas. Both of the examined synthetic methods were found to be feasible routes into PMMA·HCl. The products of each step were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR). Impurities were examined in an attempt to identify route specific compounds, which may provide valuable information about the synthetic pathway and precursors.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Forensic Science International	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.11.041	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Legal & Forensic Medicine	en_US
dc.title	Synthesis and organic impurity profiling of 4-methoxymethamphetamine hydrochloride and its precursors	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	272	en_US
utslib.for	MD Multidisciplinary	en_US
utslib.for	0301 Analytical Chemistry	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Teaching and Learning)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CCET - Centre for Clean Energy Technology
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	272	en_US

Abstract:

© 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd 4-Methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) was synthesised from star anise and from 4-methoxytoluene and the organic impurity profiles examined. These two starting materials are unrestricted chemicals in many jurisdictions and contain the requisite functional groups and are thus well suited for clandestine manufacturers. trans-Anethole was extracted from star anise and oxidised to 4-methoxyphenyl-2-propanone (PMP2P). 4-Methoxytoluene was oxidised to anisaldehyde, converted to 4-methoxyphenyl-2-nitropropene, and then reduced to PMP2P. The PMP2P obtained by both methods was then converted to PMMA via the Leuckart reaction. 4-Methoxymethamphetamine hydrochloride (PMMA·HCl) was synthesised from PMMA using hydrogen chloride gas. Both of the examined synthetic methods were found to be feasible routes into PMMA·HCl. The products of each step were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR). Impurities were examined in an attempt to identify route specific compounds, which may provide valuable information about the synthetic pathway and precursors.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/90029