Ecstacy And Friends

Question 1

What is Ecstacy and its classification

Answer 1

Ecstasy is a member of the phenylethylamine class of compounds and a derivative of methamphetamine.
Class A, schedule I drug.

Question 2

Analysis

Answer 2

Marquis colour test turns purple-black in presence of MDMA. Confirmatory tess GC-MS or HPLC.
Ecstacy testing kits can test unknown pills to determine their contents, reaction causes a colour change.
* Dark purple/ black = Ecstacy-like substance or opiates
* Bright yellow/green = indicates 2C-B, DOM or DOB.
* Bright orange = speed, methamphetamine or amphetamine

Question 3

Effects of Ecstacy

Answer 3

Takes 30-60 minutes for effects to occur and last 3-4 hours when taken orally.
Positive - Extreme mood lift, increase in energy, feelings of comfort, empathy and forgiveness, intense sensations.
Neutral - Appetite loss, visual distortion, visual hallucinations, increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Negative - Difficulty concentrating and problems with activities requiring linear focus, short term memory scramble or loss, Severe depression, fatigue, possible liver toxicity.

Question 4

Synthesis of Ecstacy

Answer 4

Safrole —NaOH—> Isofrole —> 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone (MDP-2-P) —reductive amination—> Ecstacy.

Question 5

Other routes of Ecstacy synthesis

Answer 5

Heated MDA with Formic acid in benzene, purified using dichloromethane and HCl.

From 3,4-MDPhenylacetone made from isosafrole or piperonal, using
* hydrogen peroxide, formic acid, methanol.
* From 3,4-MDPhenylacetone using aluminium, mercuric chloride,
* methylamine, HCl, and isopropylalcohol.