ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 34

The Characterization of Some 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenylisopropylamine (MDA) Analogs
Dal Cason, TA
Senior forensic chemist, Drug Enforcement Administration, North Central Laboratory, IL

(Received 15 July 1988; accepted 14 October 1988)

Abstract

The seizure in 1986 of a large-scale clandestine laboratory producing both the N-ethyl and the N,N-dimethyl analogs of 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylisopropylamine (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine [MDA]) and the recent identification of N-hydroxy MDA hydrochloride (HCl) indicate an interest by illegal laboratory operators in the synthesis of noncontrolled MDA analogs. Currently, identification of these new analogs may be hampered due to lack of available standards or reference data or both. This potential problem prompted the synthesis of the following N-substituted MDA analogs: N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl, N-isopropyl, N-hydroxy, and N,N-dimethyl MDA. Each compound was prepared by reductive amination of 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone (MDP-2-P) using the appropriate amine hydrochloride and sodium cyanoborohydride. In addition, the acetyl derivatives of MDA, N-hydroxy MDA, and MDP-2-P oxime are reported. Spectral and chromatographic data are presented for each of the compounds synthesized.

Keywords:
toxicology, 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylisopropylamine, analogs, chemical analysis

Paper ID: JFS12722J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12722J
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