The characterization of some 3,4-methylenedioxycathinone (MDCATH) homologs

In the past 35 years, a wide variety of illicit drugs have appeared in the clandestine market. Many of these compounds are based on the structure of amphetamine (1-phenyl-2-aminopropane) to which various functional or structural groups have been added. Previous modifications to the amphetamine molecule include addition of a methylenedioxy bridge to give 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, and attachment of a beta-keto oxygen to yield cathinone. A chemical synthesis integrating the salient functional/structural groups of these two classes of amphetamine analogs results in manufacture of methylenedioxycathinone (MDCATH). In each instance, N-alkylation of these analogs provides a series of homologs. Furthermore, many of these analogs/homologs meet several criteria which typically support the clandestine laboratory synthesis of novel illicit drugs ('designer drugs'). The MDCATH analogs represent a potentially new series of 'designer drugs' whose chemical characteristics have not previously been reported. Appropriate selection of analytical, chemical and physical tests will enable rapid identification of these analogs by a comparative analysis using the data provided. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.