ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 10

Methamphetamine from Ephedrine: I. Chloroephedrines and Aziridines
Allen, AC
Forensic chemist, Drug Enforcement Administration, Western Field Laboratory, CA

Kiser, WO
Forensic chemist, Drug Enforcement Administration, Southeast Field Laboratory, FL

(Received 29 May 1986; accepted 9 August 1986)

Abstract

Illicit methamphetamine clandestinely synthesized from ephedrine via reduction of chloroephedrine is discussed. The stereochemistry, mechanism, synthetic impurities, and analysis of clandestine methamphetamine samples is addressed. Stereochemical relation of (+)methamphetamine to its initial precursor (−)ephedrine or (+)pseudoephedrine is achieved by detection of (+)chloropseudoephedrine or cis-1,2-dimethyl-3-phenylaziridine, in the case of the first, and (-)chloroephedrine or trans-1,2-dimethyl-3-phenylaziridine in the case of the latter.

Keywords:
toxicology, methamphetamine, chemical analysis

Paper ID: JFS12406J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12406J
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