PiHKAL: The Chemical Story 2
#20 2C-B; 4-BROMO-2,5-DIMETHOXYPHENETHYLAMINE
SYNTHESIS: A solution of 100 g of 2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde in 220 g nitromethane was treated with 10 g anhydrous ammonium acetate, and heated on a steam bath for 2.5 h with occasional swirling. The deep-red reaction mixture was stripped of the excess nitromethane under vacuum, and the residue crystallized spontaneously. This crude nitrostyrene was purified by grinding under IPA, filtering, and air-drying, to yield 85 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-'-nitrostyrene as a yellow-orange product of adequate purity for the next step. Further purification can be achieved by recrystallization from boiling IPA.
In a round-bottomed 2 L flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer and placed under an inert atmosphere, there was added 750 mL anhydrous THF, containing 30 g LAH. There was then added, in THF solution, 60 g 2,5-dimethoxy-'-nitrostyrene. The final solution was a dirty yellow-brown color, and it was kept at reflux temperature for 24 h. After cooling, the excess hydride was destroyed by the dropwise addition of IPA. Then 30 mL 15% NaOH was added to convert the inorganic solids to a filterable mass. The reaction mixture was filtered and the filter cake washed first with THF and then with MeOH. The combined mother liquors and washings were freed of solvent under vacuum and the residue suspended in 1.5 L H2O. This was acidified with HCl, washed with with 3x100 mL CH2Cl2, made strongly basic with 25% NaOH, and reextracted with 4x100 mL CH2Cl2. The pooled extracts were stripped of solvent under vacuum, yielding 26 g of oily residue, which was distilled at 120-130 °C at 0.5 mm/Hg to give 21 g of a white oil, 2,5-dimethoxy-phenethylamine (2C-H) which picks up carbon dioxide from the air very quickly.
To a well-stirred solution of 24.8 g 2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine in 40 mL glacial acetic acid, there was added 22 g elemental bromine dissolved in 40 mL acetic acid. After a couple of min, there was the formation of solids and the simultaneous evolution of considerable heat. The reaction mixture was allowed to return to room temperature, filtered, and the solids washed sparingly with cold acetic acid. This was the hydrobromide salt. There are many complicated salt forms, both polymorphs and hydrates, that can make the isolation and characterization of 2C-B treacherous. The happiest route is to form the insoluble hydrochloride salt by way of the free base. The entire mass of acetic acid-wet salt was dissolved in warm H2O, made basic to at least pH 11 with 25% NaOH, and extracted with 3x100 mL CH2Cl2. Removal of the solvent gave 33.7 g of residue which was distilled at 115-130 °C at 0.4 mm/Hg. The white oil, 27.6 g, was dissolved in 50 mL H2O containing 7.0 g acetic acid. This clear solution was vigorous stirred, and treated with 20 mL concentrated HCl. There was an immediate formation of the anhydrous salt of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine hydrochloride (2C-B). This mass of crystals was removed by filtration (it can be loosened considerably by the addition of another 60 mL H2O), washed with a little H2O, and then with several 50 mL portions of Et2O. When completely air-dry, there was obtained 31.05 g of fine white needles, with a mp of 237-239 °C with decomposition. When there is too much H2O present at the time of adding the final concentrated HCl, a hydrated form of 2C-B is obtained. The hydrobromide salt melts at 214.5-215 °C. The acetate salt was reported to have a mp of 208-209 °C.
DOSAGE: 12 - 24 mg.
DURATION: 4 - 8 h.
QUALITATIVE COMMENTS: (with 16 mg) A day at the Stanford museum. Things were visually rich, yet I felt that I was reasonably inconspicuous. The Rodin sculptures were very personal and not terribly subtle. I saw Escher things in the ceiling design, when I decided to sit in a foyer somewhere and simply pretend to rest. Walking back, the displays seen in the bark of the eucalyptus trees, and the torment and fear (of others? of themselves?) in the faces of those who were walking towards us, were as dramatic as anything I had seen in the art galleries. Our appetites were enormous, and we went to a smorgasbord that evening. A rich experience in every possible way.
(with 20 mg) The drug effect first became known to me as a shift of colors toward golden and rose tones. Pigments in the room became intensified. Shapes became rounder, more organic. A sensation of lightness and rivulets of warmth began seeping through my body. Bright lights began pulsing and flashing behind my closed lids. I began to perceive waves of energy flowing through all of us in unison. I saw all of us as a gridwork of electrical energy beings, nodes on a bright, pulsating network of light. Then the interior landscape shifted into broader scenes. Daliesque vistas were patterned with eyes of Horus, brocades of geometric design began shifting and changing through radiant patterns of light. It was an artist's paradise Q representing virtually the full pantheon of the history of art.
(with 20 mg) The room was cool, and for the first hour I felt cold and chilled. That was the only mildly unpleasant part. We had been hanging crystals earlier that day, and the visions I had were dominated by prismatic light patterns. It was almost as if I became the light. I saw kaleidoscopic forms Q similar to, but less intense than, when on acid Q and organic forms like Georgia OUKeefe flowers, blossoming and undulating. My body was flooded with orgasms Q practically from just breathing. The lovemaking was phenomenal, passionate, ecstatic, lyric, animal, loving, tender, sublime. The music was voluptuous, almost three-dimensional. Sometimes the sound seemed distorted to me, underwater like. This was especially so for the less good recordings Q but I could choose to concentrate on the beauty of the music or the inadequacy of the sound's quality, and mostly chose to concentrate on the beauty.
(with 24 mg) I am totally into my body. I am aware of every muscle and nerve in my body. The night is extraordinary Q moon full. Unbelievably erotic, quiet and exquisite, almost unbearable. I cannot begin to unravel the imagery that imposes itself during the finding of an orgasm. Trying to understand physical/spiritual merging in nature Q .
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: Four quotations were chosen arbitrarily from literally hundreds that have worked their ways into the files. The vast majority are positive, ranging from the colorful to the ecstatic. But not all are. There are people who choose not to go into the corporeal but, rather, prefer the out-of-body experience. They express discomfort with 2C-B, and seem to lean more to the Ketamine form of altered state, one which dissociates body from mind.
There have been reports of several overdoses that prove the intrinsic safety of this compound. Prove is used here in the classic British sense; i.e., to challenge. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating," is not a verification of quality, but an inquiry into the quality itself. (The French simplify all this by using two separate verbs for prove.) One overdose was intentional, the other accidental.
(with 64 mg) I found only mild visual and emotional effects at the 20 milligram dose, so I took the remaining 44 milligrams. I was propelled into something not of my choosing. Everything that was alive was completely fearsome. I could look at a picture of a bush, and it was just that, a picture, and it posed no threat to me. Then my gaze moved to the right, and caught a bush growing outside the window, and I was petrified. A life-form I could not understand, and thus could not control. And I felt that my own life-form was not a bit more controllable.S This was from the comments of a physician who assured me that he saw no neurological concerns during this dramatic and frightening experience.
(with 100 mg) I had weighed correctly. I had simply picked up the wrong vial. And my death was to be a consequence of a totally stupid mistake. I wanted to walk outside, but there was a swimming pool there and I didn't dare fall into it. A person may believe that he has prepared himself for his own death, but when the moment comes, he is completely alone, and totally unprepared. Why now? Why me? Two hours later, I knew that I would live after all, and the experience became really marvelous. But the moment of facing death is a unique experience. In my case, I will some day meet it again, and I fear that I will be no more comfortable with it then than I was just now. This was from the comments of a psychologist who will, without doubt, use psychedelics again in the future, as a probe into the unknown.
Many of the reports that have come in over the years have mentioned the combination of MDMA and 2C-B. The most successful reports have followed a program in which the two drugs are not used at the same time, nor even too closely spaced. It appears that the optimum time for the 2C-B is at, or just before, the final baseline recovery of the MDMA. It is as if the mental and emotional discoveries can be mobilized, and something done about them. This combination has several enthusiastic advocates in the psychotherapy world, and should be the basis of careful research when these materials become legal, and accepted by the medical community.
A generalized spectrum of 2C-B action can be gleaned from the many reports that have been written describing its effects. (1) There is a steep dose response curve. Over the 12 to 24 milligram range, every 2 milligrams can make a profound increase or change of response. Initially, one should go lightly, and increase the dosage in subsequent trials by small increments. A commonly used term for a level that produces a just perceptible effect is Rmuseum level.S This is a slightly-over-threshold level which allows public activities (such as viewing paintings in a museum or scenery watching as a passenger in a car) to be entered into without attracting attention. There can be considerable discomfort associated with being in the public eye, with higher doses. (2) The 2C-B experience is one of the shortest of any major psychedelic drug. Wherever you might be, hang on. In an hour or so you will be approaching familiar territory again. (3) If there is anything ever found to be an effective aphrodisiac, it will probably be patterned after 2C-B in structure.
There are two "Tweetios" known that are related to 2C-B. (See recipe #23 for the origin of this phrase.) The 2-EtO- homologue of 2C-B is 4-bromo-2-ethoxy-5-methoxyphenethylamine, or 2CB-2ETO. The unbrominated benzaldehyde (2-ethoxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde) had a melting point of 47.5-48.5 °C, the unbrominated nitrostyrene intermediate a melting point of 76-77 °C, and the final hydrochloride a melting point of 185-186 °C. The hydrobromide salt had a melting point of 168.5-169.5 °C. It seems that one gets about as much effect as can be had, with a dosage of about 15 milligrams, and increases above this, to 30 and to 50 milligrams merely prolong the activity (from about 3 hours to perhaps 6 hours). At no dose was there an intensity that in any way resembled that of 2C-B.
The 2,5-DiEtO- homologue of 2C-B is 4-bromo-2,5-diethoxyphenethylamine, or 2CB-2,5-DIETO. The unbrominated impure benzaldehyde (2,5-diethoxybenzaldehyde) had a melting point of about 57 °C, the unbrominated impure nitrostyrene intermediate a melting point of about 60 °C, and the final hydrochloride a melting point of 230-231 °C. The hydrobromide salt had a melting point of 192-193 °C. At levels of 55 milligrams, there was only a restless sleep, and strange dreams. The active level is not yet known.
I have been told of some studies that have involved a positional rearrangement analogue of 2C-B. This is 2-bromo-4,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (or 6-BR-DMPEA). This would be the product of the elemental bromination of DMPEA, and it has been assayed as the hydrobromide salt. Apparently, the intravenous injection of 60 milligrams gave a rapid rush, with intense visual effects reported, largely yellow and black. Orally, there may be some activity at the 400 to 500 milligram area, but the reports described mainly sleep disturbance. This would suggest a stimulant component. The N-methyl homologue of this rearranged compound was even less active.
#21 3C-BZ; 4-BENZYLOXY-3,5-DIMETHOXYAMPHETAMINE
SYNTHESIS: A solution of 268 g 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and 212 g allyl bromide in 700 mL dry acetone was treated with 315 g anhydrous K2CO3 and held at reflux for 16 h. The solvent was removed under vacuum, and the residue dissolved in H2O and extracted with 3x100 mL CH2Cl2. The pooled extracts were washed with 5% NaOH, then with H2O, and the solvent removed under vacuum. The residue, which weighed 245 g, was stirred and heated in an oil bath to 230 °C at which point an exothermic reaction set in. The heating was maintained at 230 °C for 0.5 h, and then the reaction mixture distilled. There was obtained a total of 127 g of 5-allyl-1,3-dimethoxy-2-hydroxybenzene as a colorless distillate, that was identical in all respects to natural 5-methoxyeugenol obtained from Oil of Nutmeg.
A solution containing 40.4 g 5-methoxyeugenol and 26.6 g benzyl chloride in 65 mL EtOH was added, all at once, to a hot and well stirred solution of 11.7 g KOH in 500 mL EtOH. The potassium salt of the phenol crystallized out immediately. By maintaining reflux conditions, this slowly redissolved, and was replaced by the steady deposition of KCl. After 6 h, the reaction mixture was cooled, and the solids removed by filtration. The filtrate was stripped of solvent under vacuum to give 57 g of crude 5-allyl-2-benzyloxy-1,3-dimethoxybenzene. This was dissolved in a solution of 60 g KOH in 80 mL EtOH and heated on the steam bath for 16 h. The reaction mixture was quenched in 500 mL H2O, and extracted with 2x200 mL CH2Cl2. Removal of the solvent under vacuum gave 35.6 g of crude 2-benzyloxy-1,3-dimethoxy-5-propenylbenzene.
To a stirred, ice-cold solution of 33.6 g of the above impure 2-benzyloxy-1,3-dimethoxy-5-propenylbenzene and 13.6 g pyridine in 142 mL acetone, there was added 24.6 g tetranitromethane. After stirring for 3 min, there was added a solution of 7.9 g KOH in 132 mL H2O, followed by additional H2O. The oily phase that remained was H2O washed, and then diluted with an equal volume of MeOH. This slowly set up to yellow crystals, which were removed by filtration and washed sparingly with MeOH. There was obtained 9.2 g 1-(4-benzyloxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-nitropropene with a mp of 84-85 °C. An analytical sample, from EtOH, had a mp of 86-87 °C.
To a refluxing suspension of 5.5 g LAH in 360 mL anhydrous Et2O under an inert atmosphere, there was added 8.6 g 1-(4-benzyloxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-nitropropene by letting the condensing Et2O leach out a saturated solution from a modified Soxhlet condenser. The addition took 1.5 h and the refluxing was maintained for an additional 4 h. After cooling, the excess hydride was destroyed by the cautious addition of 330 mL of 1.5 N H2SO4. The aqueous phase was heated up to 80 °C, filtered through paper to remove a small amount of insoluble material, and treated with a solution of 8 g picric acid in 150 mL boiling EtOH. Cooling in the ice chest overnight gave globs of the amine picrate, but no clear signs of crystallization. These were washed with cold H2O, then dissolved in 5% NaOH to give a bright yellow solution. This was extracted with 3x150 mL CH2Cl2, the solvent removed under vacuum, the residue dissolved in 300 mL anhydrous Et2O, freed from a little particulate material by filtration through paper, and then saturated with hydrogen chloride gas. There was thus obtained, after filtering, Et2O washing and air drying, 2.5 g 4-benzyloxy-3,5-dimethoxyamphetamine hydrochloride (3C-BZ) as a white solid with a mp of 161-164 °C.
DOSAGE: 25 - 200 mg.
DURATION: 18 - 24 h.
QUANTITATIVE COMMENTS: (with 25 mg) I went into an emotionally brittle place, and for a while I was uncomfortable with childhood reminiscences. The seeing of my family's Christmas tree in my mind was almost too much. I cried.
(with 50 mg) The action is distinct Q wakeful Q alerting and wound up. Hypnogogic imagery, and I could not sleep at night with my mind doing many uncontrolled, tangential, busy things. I had fleeting nausea early in the process.
(with 100 mg) I took this in two portions. Following 50 milligrams I was aware of a slight light-headedness at a half-hour, but there was little else. At 1 1/2 hours, I took the second 50 milligrams and the augmentation of effects was noted in another half hour. The experience quietly built up to about the fifth hour, with some erotic fantasy and suggestions of changes in the visual field. I could not sleep until the twelfth hour, and my dreams were wild and not too friendly. There was no body threat from this, but I was not completely baseline until the next day. I am not too keen to do this again Q it lasts too long.
(with 100 mg) No effects.
(with 150 mg) This is in every way identical to 100 micrograms of LSD.
(with 180 mg) I can compare this directly to TMA which was the material I took last week. Many similarities, but this is unquestionably more intense than the TMA was at 200 milligrams. It is hard to separate the degree of impact that this drug has, from the simple fact that it lasts forever, and I was getting physically tired but I couldn't sleep. There is some amphetamine-like component, more than with TMA.
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: Two points are worthy of commentary; the potency and the promise of 3C-BZ.
As to potency, there is such uncertainty as to the effective dose, that it is for all intents and purposes impossible to predict just what dose should be considered for a person's first time with this. The choice of quotations was made with the intention of giving a picture of this scatter. A total of ten subjects have explored this compound, and the very broad range given above, 25 to 200 milligrams, reflects the degree of variation that has been encountered.
Which is a shame, because the concept of a new ring such as is found here on the 4-position would have allowed an extremely wide array of substituents. Electron-rich things, electron-poor things, heavy things, light things, and on and on. This could have been a location of much variation, but it is a possibility that the uncertainties of dosage might extrapolate to these novel ring substitutions as well. Only a single variation was made, the 4-fluorobenzyl analogue. This was prepared following exactly the procedure given here for 3C-BZ, except for the replacement of benzyl chloride with 4-fluorobenzyl chloride. The allyl intermediate was an oil, but the propenyl isomer gave solids with a melting point of 59-60 °C from hexane. The nitrostyrene was a yellow crystalline solid from methanol with a melting point of 98-99 °C. The end product, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-(4-fluorobenzyloxy)amphetamine hydrochloride (3C-FBZ) was a white solid with a melting point of 149-150 °C. It has been assayed only up to 4 milligrams and there was absolutely no activity of any kind observed at that level.
#22 2C-C; 2,5-DIMETHOXY-4-CHLOROPHENETHYLAMINE
SYNTHESIS: (from 2C-H) The free base of 2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine was generated from its salt (see recipe for 2C-H for the preparation of this compound) by treating a solution of 16.2 g of the hydrochloride salt in 300 mL H2O with aqueous NaOH, extraction with 3x75 mL CH2Cl2, and removal of the solvent from the pooled extracts under vacuum. The colorless residue was dissolved in 75 mL glacial acetic acid (the solids that initially formed redissolved completely) and this was cooled to 0 °C with an external ice bath. With vigorous stirring, there was added 4.0 mL of liquid chlorine, a little bit at a time with a Pasteur pipette. The theoretical volume was 3.4 mL, but some was lost in pipetting, some on contact with the 0 °C acetic acid, and some was lost by chlorination of the acetic acid. The reaction turned a dark amber color, was allowed to stir for an additional 10 min, then quenched with 400 mL H2O. This was washed with 3x100 mL CH2Cl2 (which removed some of the color) then brought to neutrality with dilute aqueous NaOH and treated with a small amount of sodium dithionite which discharged most of the color (from deep brown to pale yellow). The reaction was made strongly basic with aqueous KOH, and extracted with 3x75 mL CH2Cl2. The pooled extracts were washed once with H2O and the solvent was removed under vacuum leaving about 10 mL of a deep amber oil as residue. This was dissolved in 75 mL IPA and neutralized with concentrated HCl which allowed spontaneous crystallization. These crystals were removed by filtration, washed with an additional 20 mL IPA, and air-dried to constant weight. There was thus obtained 4.2 g 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chlorophenethylamine hydrochloride (2C-C) with a mp of 218-221 °C. Recrystallization from IPA increased this to 220-222 °C. The position of chlorination on the aromatic ring was verified by the presence of two para-protons in the NMR, at 7.12 and 7.20 ppm from external TMS, in a D2O solution of the hydrochloride salt.
Synthesis from 2C-B. To a solution of 7.24 g 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine (2C-B) and 4.5 g phthalic anhydride in 100 mL anhydrous DMF there was added molecular sieves. After 16 h reflux, the reaction mixture was cooled and the sieves removed by filtration. The addition of a little CH2Cl2 prompted the deposition of yellow crystals which were recrystallized from EtOH. The resulting 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenyl)-2-(phthalimido)ethane weighed 7.57 g and had a mp of 141-142 °C. Anal. (C18H16BrNO4) C,H,N,Br.
A solution of 14.94 g of 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenyl)-2-(phthalimido)ethane and 4.5 g cuprous chloride in 300 mL anhydrous DMF was heated for 5 h at reflux. The cooled mixture was poured into 20 mL H2O that contained 13 g hydrated ferric chloride and 3 mL concentrated HCl. The mixture was maintained at about 70 °C for 20 min, and then extracted with CH2Cl2. After washing the pooled organic extracts with dilute HCl and drying with anhydrous MgSO4, the volatiles were removed under vacuum to provide a solid residue. This was recrystallized from EtOH to provide 12.18 g of 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-chlorophenyl)-2-(phthalimido)ethane as yellow needles that had a mp of 138-140 °C. Anal. (C18H16ClNO4) C,H,N,Cl.
To 60 mL absolute EtOH there was added 12.2 g 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-chlorophenyl)-2-(phthalimido)ethane and 2.9 mL of 100% hydrazine. The solution was held at reflux for 15 min. After cooling, the cyclic hydrazone by-product was removed by filtration, and the alcoholic mother liquors taken to dryness under vacuum. The residue was distilled at 145-155 °C at 0.05 mm/Hg to give 5.16 g of a clear, colorless oil. This was dissolved in anhydrous Et2O and treated with hydrogen chloride gas, producing 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chlorophenethylamine hydrochloride (2C-C) as white crystals with a mp of 220-221 °C. Anal. (C10H15Cl2NO2) C,H,N.
DOSAGE: 20 - 40 mg.
DURATION: 4 - 8 h.
QUALITATIVE COMMENTS: (with 20 mg) This is longer lived than 2C-B, and there is a longer latency in coming on. It took an hour and a half, or even two hours to get there. It had a slight metallic overtone.
(with 24 mg) I was at a moderately high and thoroughly favorable place, for several hours. It seemed to be a very sensual place, but without too much in the way of visual distraction.
(with 40 mg) There were a lot of visuals Q something that I had noted at lower levels. There seems to be less stimulation than with 2C-B, and in some ways it is actually sedating. And yet I was up all night. It was like a very intense form of relaxation.
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: Other reports mention usage of up to 50 milligrams which seems to increase yet further the intensity and the duration. I have one report of an intravenous administration of 20 milligrams, and the response was described as overwhelming. The effects peaked at about 5 minutes and lasted for perhaps 15 minutes.
The halogens represent a small group of atoms that are unique for a couple of reasons. They are all located in a single column of the periodic table, being monovalent and negative. That means that they can be reasonably stable things when attached to an aromatic nucleus. But, being monovalent, they cannot be modified or extended in any way. Thus, they are kind of a dead end, at least as far as the 2C-X series is considered. The heaviest, iodine, was explored as the phen-ethylamine, as 2C-I, and as the amphetamine as DOI. These are the most potent. The next lighter is bromine, where the phenethylamine is 2C-B and the amphetamine is DOB. These two are a bit less potent, and are by far the most broadly explored of all the halides. Here, in the above recipe, we have the chlorine counterpart, 2C-C. There is also the corresponding amphetamine DOC. These are less potent still, and much less explored. Why? Perhaps because chlorine is a gas and troublesome to handle (bromine is a liquid, and iodine is a solid). The fluorine analogue is yet harder to make, and requires procedures that are indirect, because fluorine (the lightest of all the halides) is not only a gas, but is dangerous to handle and does not react in the usual halogen way. There will be mention made of 2C-F, but DOF is still unexplored.
The treatment of the 2C-B phthalimide described above, with cuprous cyanide rather than cuprous chloride, gave rise to the cyano analog which, on hydrolysis with hydrazine, yielded 2,5-dimethoxy-4-cyanophenethylamine (2C-CN). Hydrolysis of this with hot, strong base gave the corresponding acid, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-carboxyphenethylamine, 2C-COOH. No evaluation of either of these compounds has been made in the human animal, as far as I know.
#23 2C-D; LE-25; 2,5-DIMETHOXY-4-METHYLPHENETHYLAMINE
SYNTHESIS: Into 1 L H2O that was being stirred magnetically, there was added, in sequence, 62 g toluhydroquinone, 160 mL 25% NaOH, and 126 g dimethyl sulfate. After about 2 h, the reaction mixture was no longer basic, and another 40 mL of the 25% NaOH was added. Even with stirring for a few additional days, the reaction mixture remained basic. It was quenched in 2.5 L H2O, extracted with 3x100 mL CH2Cl2 and the pooled extracts stripped of solvent under vacuum. The remaining 56.4 g of amber oil was distilled at about 70 °C at 0.5 mm/Hg to yield 49.0 g of 2,5-dimethoxytoluene as a white liquid. The aqueous residues, on acidification, provided a phenolic fraction that distilled at 75-100 °C at 0.4 mm/Hg to give 5.8 g of a pale yellow distillate that partially crystallized. These solids (with mp of 54-62 °C) were removed by filtration, and yielded 3.1 g of a solid which was recrystallized from 50 mL hexane containing 5 mL toluene. This gave 2.53 g of a white crystalline product with a mp of 66-68 °C. A second recrystallization (from hexane) raised this mp to 71-72 °C. The literature value given for the mp of 2-methyl-4-methoxyphenol is 70-71 °C. The literature value given for the mp of the isomeric 3-methyl-4-methoxyphenol is 44-46 °C. This phenol, on ethylation, gives 2-ethoxy-5-methoxytoluene, which leads directly to the 2-carbon 2CD-5ETO (one of the Tweetios) and the 3-carbon Classic Lady IRIS.
A mixture of 34.5 g POCl3 and 31.1 g N-methylformanilide was heated for 10 min on the steam bath, and then there was added 30.4 g of 2,5-dimethoxytoluene. Heating was continued for 2.5 h, and the viscous, black, ugly mess was poured into 600 mL of warm H2O and stirred overnight. The resulting rubbery miniature-rabbit-droppings product was removed by filtration and sucked as free of H2O as possible. The 37.2 g of wet product was extracted on the steam-bath with 4x100 mL portions of boiling hexane which, after decantation and cooling, yielded a total of 15.3 g of yellow crystalline product. This, upon recrystallization from 150 mL boiling hexane, gave pale yellow crystals which, when air dried to constant weight, represented 8.7 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylbenzaldehyde, and had a mp of 83-84 °C. Anal. (C8H12O3) C,H,N. The Gattermann aldehyde synthesis gave a better yield (60% of theory) but required the use of hydrogen cyanide gas. The malononitrile derivative, from 5.7 g of the aldehyde and 2.3 g malononitrile in absolute EtOH, treated with a drop of triethylamine, was an orange crystalline product. A sample recrystallized from EtOH gave a mp of 138.5-139 °C.
A solution of 8.65 g 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylbenzaldehyde in 30 g nitromethane was treated with 1.1 g anhydrous ammonium acetate and heated for 50 min on the steam bath. Stripping off the excess nitromethane under vacuum yielded orange crystals which weighed 12.2 g. These were recrystallized from 100 mL IPA providing yellow crystals of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methyl-'-nitrostyrene which weighed, when dry, 7.70 g. The mp was 117-118 °C, and this was increased to 118-119 °C upon recrystallization from benzene/heptane 1:2.
To a well stirred suspension of 7.0 g LAH in 300 mL of warm THF under an inert atmosphere, there was added 7.7 g 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methyl-'-nitrostyrene in 35 mL THF over the course of 0.5 h. This reaction mixture was held at reflux for 24 h, cooled to room temperature, and the excess hydride destroyed with 25 mL IPA. There was then added 7 mL 15% NaOH, followed by 21 mL H2O. The granular gray mass was filtered, and the filter cake washed with 2x50 mL THF. The combined filtrate and washes were stripped of their volatiles under vacuum to give a residue weighing 7.7 g which was distilled at 90-115 °C at 0.3 mm/Hg to provide 4.90 g of a clear, white oil, which crystallized in the receiver. This was dissolved in 25 mL IPA, and neutralized with concentrated HCl which produced immediate crystals of the salt. These were dispersed with 80 mL anhydrous Et2O, filtered, and washed with Et2O to give, after air drying to constant weight, 4.9 g of fluffy white crystals of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenethylamine hydrochloride (2C-D). The mp was 213-214 °C which was not improved by recrystallization from CH3CN/IPA mixture, or from EtOH. The hydrobromide salt had a mp of 183-184 °C. The acetamide, from the free base in pyridine treated with acetic anhydride, was a white crystalline solid which, when recrystallized from aqueous MeOH, had a mp of 116-117 °C.
DOSAGE: 20 - 60 mg.
DURATION: 4 - 6 h.
QUALITATIVE COMMENTS: (with 10 mg) There is something going on, but it is subtle. I find that I can just slightly redirect my attention so that it applies more exactly to what I am doing. I feel that I can learn faster. This is a "smart' pill°"
(with 20 mg) Butterflies in stomach whole time. OK. This is about the right level. In retrospect, not too interesting. Primarily a stimulant, not entirely physically pleasant. The visual is not too exciting. I am easily distracted. One line of thought to another. I feel that more would be too stimulating.
(with 30 mg) I was into it quite quickly (not much over three-quarters of an hour) and got up to a ++ by the end of an hour. There is something unsatisfactory about trying to classify this level. I had said that I was willing to increase the dose to a higher level, to break out of this not-quite-defined level into something psychedelic. But I may not want to go higher. Under different circumstances I would not mind trying it at a considerably lower dosage, perhaps at the 10 or 15 milligrams. I do not have a comfortable label on this material, yet.
(with 45 mg) There was a rocket from the half-hour to the one and a half hour, from nothing up to a +++. Somehow the intimacy and the erotic never quite knit, and I feel that I am always waiting for the experience to come home. Talking is extremely easy, but something is missing. Appetite is good. I am down by the fifth hour, and sleep is comfortable. This compound will take some learning.
(with 75 mg) This is a +++, but the emphasis is on talking, not on personal interacting. I am putting out, but my boundaries are intact. I was able to sleep at the sixth hour. Communication was excellent. This is fast on, but not too long lived. Maybe a therapy tool?S
(with 150 mg) A truly remarkable psychedelic, one which could compare favorably with 2C-B. There are intense colors, and I feel that more would be too much.
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: Wow° This particular compound is what I call a pharmacological tofu. It doesn't seem to do too much by itself, always teasing, until you get to heroic levels. But a goodly number of experimental therapists have said that it is excellent in extending the action of some other materials. It seems to boost the waning action of another drug, without adding its own color to the experience. Yet, the comment above, on the high level of 150 milligrams, is a direct quote from the use of this compound in Germany (where it is called LE-25) in therapeutic research.
This is probably the most dramatic example of the loss of potency from an amphetamine (DOM, active at maybe 3 milligrams) to a phenethylamine (only one tenth as active). It is so often the case that the first of a series is not the most interesting nor the most potent member. As intriguing and as difficult-to-define as the 2C-D story might be, the next higher homologue of this set, 2C-E, is maximally active at the 15 to 20 milligram level, and is, without any question, a complete psychedelic.
The N-monomethyl and the N,N-dimethyl homologues of 2C-D have been synthesized from 2C-D. The N-monomethyl compound was obtained by the quaternization of the Schiff's base formed between 2C-D and benzaldehyde with methyl sulfate, followed by hydrolysis; the hydrochloride salt had a melting point of 150-151 °C, from EtOH. The N,N-dimethyl compound resulted from the action of formaldehyde-formic acid on 2C-D; the hydrochloride salt had a melting point of 168-169 °C from EtOH/ether. These two compounds were some ten times less effective in interfering with conditioned responses in experimental rats. There is no report of their having been explored in man.
I have learned of an extensive study of ethoxy homologues of a number of the phenethylamines in the 2C-X series; they have been collectively called the "Tweetios." This Sylvester and Tweety-bird allusion came directly from the compulsive habit of trying to alleviate the boredom of driving long distances (not under the influence of anything) by the attempt to pronounce the license plates of cars as they passed. The first of this series of compounds had a name that indicated that there was an ethoxy group at the 2-position, or 2-EtO, or Tweetio, and the rest is history. In every compound to be found in the 2C-X family, there are two methoxy groups, one at the 2-position and one at the 5-position. There are thus three possible tweetio compounds, a 2-EtO-, a 5-EtO- and a 2,5-di-EtO-. Those that have been evaluated in man are included after each of the 2C-X's that has served as the prototype. In general, the 2-EtO- compounds have a shorter duration and a lower potency, the 5-EtO- compounds have a relatively unchanged potency and a longer time duration; the 2,5-di-EtO- homologues are very weak, if active at all.
The 2-EtO-homologue of 2C-D is 2-ethoxy-5-methoxy-4-methylphenethylamine, or 2CD-2ETO. The benzaldehyde (2-ethoxy-5-methoxy-4-tolualdehyde) had a melting point of 60.5-61 °C, the nitrostyrene intermediate a melting point of 110.5-111.5 °C, and the final hydrochloride a melting point of 207-208 °C. The hydrobromide salt had a melting point of 171-173 °C. At levels of 60 milli-grams, there was the feeling of closeness between couples, without an appreciable state of intoxication. The duration was about 4 hours.
The 5-EtO- homologue of 2C-D is 5-ethoxy-2-methoxy-4-methylphenethylamine, or 2CD-5ETO. The benzaldehyde (5-ethoxy-2-ethoxy-4-tolualdehyde) had a melting point of 81-82 °C, and the details of this synthesis are given in the recipe for IRIS. The nitrostyrene intermediate had a melting point of 112.5-113.5 °C and the final hydrochloride salt had a melting point of 197-198 °C. The hydro-bromide salt had a melting point of 158-159 °C. At dosage levels of 40 to 50 milli-grams, there was a slow, gradual climb to the full effects that were noted in about 2 hours. The experience was largely free from excitement, but with a friendly openness and outgoingness that allowed easy talk, interaction, humor, and a healthy appetite. The duration of effects was 12 hours.
The 2,5-di-EtO- homologue of 2C-D is 2,5-diethoxy-4-methylphenethylamine, or 2CD-2,5-DIETO. The benzaldehyde (2,5-diethoxy-4-tolualdehyde) had a melting point of 102-103 °C, the nitrostyrene intermediate a melting point of 108-109 °C, and the final hydrochloride salt a melting point of 251-252 °C. At a level of 55 milligrams, a plus one was reached, and what effects there were, were gone after four hours.
#24 2C-E; 2,5-DIMETHOXY-4-ETHYLPHENETHYLAMINE
SYNTHESIS: A suspension of 140 g anhydrous AlCl3 in 400 mL CH2Cl2 was treated with 100 g acetyl chloride. This slurry was added to a vigorously stirred solution of 110 g p-dimethoxybenzene in 300 mL CH2Cl2. Stirring was continued at ambient temperature for an additional 40 min, then all was poured into 1 L water and the phases separated. The aqueous phase was extracted with 2x100 mL CH2Cl2 and the combined organic phases washed with 3x150 mL 5% NaOH. These washes, after combination and acidification, were extracted with 3x75 mL CH2Cl2 and the extracts washed once with saturated NaHCO3. Re-moval of the solvent under vacuum provided 28.3 g of 2-hydroxy-5-methoxyaceto-phenone as yellow crystals which, on recrystallization from 2 volumes of boiling MeOH and air drying, provided 21.3 g of product with a mp of 49-49.5 °C. Ethyl-ation of this material serves as the starting point for the synthesis of 2CE-5ETO. The CH2Cl2 fraction from the base wash, above, was stripped of solvent on the rotary evaporator to give a residual oil that, on distillation at 147-150 °C at the water pump, provided 111.6 g of 2,5-dimethoxyacetophenone as an almost white oil.
In a round bottom flask equipped with a reflux condenser, a take-off adapter, an immersion thermometer, and a magnetic stirrer, there was placed 100 g 2,5-dimethoxyacetophenone, 71 g 85% KOH pellets, 500 mL of triethylene glycol, and 125 mL 65% hydrazine. The mixture was brought up to a boil by heating with an electric mantle, and the distillate was removed, allowing the temperature of the pot contents to continuously increase. When the pot temperature had reached 210 °C, reflux was established and maintained for an additional 3 h. After cooling, the reaction mixture and the distillate were combined, poured into 3 L water, and extracted with 3x100 mL hexane. After washing the pooled extracts with water, the solvent was removed yielding 22.0 g of a pale straw-colored liquid that was free of both hydroxy and carbonyl groups by infrared. This was distilled at 120-140 °C at the water pump to give 2,5-dimethoxy-1-ethylbenzene as a white fluid product. Acidification of the spent aqueous phase with concentrated HCl produced a heavy black oil which was extracted with 3x100 mL CH2Cl2. Removal of the solvent on the rotary evaporator yielded 78 g.of a black residue that was distilled at 90-105 °C at 0.5 mm/Hg to provide 67.4 g of an orange-amber oil that was largely 2-ethyl-4-methoxyphenol. This material could eventually be used as a starting material for ethoxy homologues. However, remethylation (with CH3I and KOH in methanol) provided some 28 g additional 2,5-dimethoxyethylbenzene.
A solution of 8.16 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-1-ethylbenzene in 30 mL CH2Cl2 was cooled to 0 °C with good stirring and under an inert atmosphere of He. There was then added 11.7 mL anhydrous stannic chloride, followed by 3.95 mL dichloromethyl methyl ether dropwise over the course of 0.5 h. The stirred reaction mixture was allowed to come up to room temperature, then held on the steam bath for 1 h. The reaction mixture was poured into 1 L water, extracted with 3x75 mL CH2Cl2, and the pooled extracts washed with dilute HCl. The organic phase was stripped under vacuum yielding 10.8 g of a dark viscous oil. This was distilled at 90-110 °C at 0.2 mm/Hg to yield a colorless oil that, on cooling, set to white crystals. The yield of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylbenzaldehyde was 5.9 g of material that had a mp of 46-47 °C. After purification through the bisulfite complex, the mp increased to 47-48 °C. The use of the Vilsmeier aldehyde synthesis (with POCl3 and N-methylformanilide) gave results that were totally unpredictable. The malononitrile derivative (from 0.3 g of this aldehyde and 0.3 g malononitrile in 5 mL EtOH and a drop of triethylamine) formed red crystals which, on recrystallization from toluene, had a mp of 123-124 °C.
A solution of 21.0 g of the unrecrystallized 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylbenzaldehyde in 75 g nitromethane was treated with 4 g of anhydrous ammonium acetate and heated on the steam bath for about 2 h. The progress of the reaction was best followed by TLC analysis of the crude reaction mixture on silica gel plates with CH2Cl2 as the developing solvent. The excess solvent/reagent was removed under vacuum yielding granular orange solids that were recrystallized from seven volumes of boiling MeOH. After cooling in external ice-water for 1 h, the yellow crystalline product was removed by filtration, washed with cold MeOH and air dried to give 13.4 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-'-nitrostyrene. The mp was 96-98 °C which improved to 99-100 °C after a second recrystallization from MeOH.
A total of 120 mL of 1.0 M solution of LAH in THF (120 mL of 1.0 M) was transferred to a 3 neck 500 mL flask, under an inert atmosphere with good magnetic stirring. This solution was cooled to °C with an external ice-water bath, and there was then added 3.0 mL of 100% H2SO4 over the course of 0.5 h. This was followed by a solution of 5.85 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-'-nitrostyrene, in 40 mL of warm THF. The reaction mixture was stirred for 0.5 h, brought to room temperature, heated on the steam bath for 0.5 h, and then returned to room temperature. The addition of IPA dropwise destroyed the excess hydride, and some 4.5 mL of 5% NaOH produce a white cottage cheese, in a basic organic medium. This mixture was filtered, washed with THF, and the filtrate evaporated to produce 2.8 g of an almost white oil. The filter cake was resuspended in THF, made more basic with additional 15 mL of 5% NaOH, again filtered, and the filtrate removed to provide an additional 2.8 g of crude product. These residues were combined and distilled at 90-100 °C at 0.25 mm/Hg to give a colorless oil. This was dissolved in 30 mL IPA, neutralized with concentrated HCl, and diluted with 50 mL anhydrous Et2O to provide, after spontaneous crystallization, filtration, washing with Et2O, and air drying, 3.87 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylphenethylamine hydrochloride (2C-E) as magnificent white crystals. A similar yield can be obtained from the reduction of the nitrostyrene in a suspension of LAH in THF, without the use of H2SO4. With 11.3 g of LAH in 300 mL dry THF, there was added, dropwise, a solution of 13.4 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-'-nitrostyrene in 75 mL THF over the course of 2 h. The mixture was kept at reflux for an additional 8 h, and killed by the careful addition of 11 mL H2O, followed with 11 mL 15% NaOH, and finally another 33 mL of H2O. This mass was filtered, washed with THF, and the combined filtrates and washes evaporated to a residue under vacuum The approximately 15 mL of residue was dissolved in 300 mL CH2Cl2 and treated with 200 mL H2O containing 20 mL concentrated HCl. On shaking the mixture, there was deposited a mass of the hydrochloride salt which was diluted with a quantity of additional H2O. The organic phase was extracted with additional dilute HCL, and these aqueous phases were combined. After being made basic with 25% NaOH, this phase was again extracted with 3x75 mL CH2Cl2 and after the removal of the solvent, yielded 12.6 g of a colorless oil. This was dissolved in 75 mL of IPA and neutralized with concentrated HCl. The solidified mass that formed was loosened with another 50 mL IPA, and then filtered. After Et2O washing and air drying there was obtained 7.7 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylphenethylamine hydrochloride (2C-E) as lustrous white crystals. Anal. (C12H20ClNO2) C,H.
DOSAGE: 10 - 25 mg.
DURATION: 8 - 12 h.
QUALITATIVE COMMENTS: (with 16 mg) There was a strange devil-angel pairing. As I was being told of the ecstatic white-light ascent of my partner into the God-space of an out-of-body experience, I was fighting my way out of a brown ooze. She saw the young Jesus at the bottom of a ladder drifting upwards step by step to some taking-off place, and I saw all the funny gargoyles around the base of the ladder surrounded by picnic bunting. For me it was the 4th of July, rather than Easter°S
(with 20 mg) The view out of the window was unreal. The garden was painted on the window, and every petal of flower and tuft of grass and leaf of tree was carefully sculptured in fine strokes of oil paint on the surface of the glass. It was not out there; it was right here in front of me. The woman who was watering the plants was completely frozen, immobilized by Vermeer. And when I looked again, she was in a different place, but again frozen. I was destined to become the eternal museum viewer.
(with 25 mg) I have a picture in my living room that is a stylized German scene with a man on horseback riding through the woods, and a young girl coming out to meet him from the nearby trees. But she was not just 'coming out.' He was not just riding through the woods. The wind was blowing, and his horse was at full gallop, and his cape was flapping in the storm, and she was bearing down upon him at full bore. The action never ceased. I became exhausted.
(with 25 mg) Within minutes I was anxious and sweaty. Each person has his own brand of toxic psychosis Q mine always starts with the voices in my head talking to me, about all my worst fears, a jumble of warnings and deep fears spinning faster. Twenty minutes later this complex chaos passed as quickly as it had come. At lower dosages 2C-E has been a truly enjoyable esthetic enhancer. But it really has a steep dose/response curve.
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: Here is another of the magical half-dozen. The range is purposefully broad. At 10 milligrams there have been some pretty rich +++ experiences, and yet I have had the report from one young lady of a 30 milligram trial that was very frightening. My first experience with 2C-E was really profound, and it is the substance of a chapter within the story. The amphet-amine homologue is DOET, which is not only much longer in action, but considerably more potent. Several people have said, about 2C-E, RI don't think I like it, since it isn't that much fun. But I intend to explore it again.S There is something here that will reward the experimenter. Someday, the full character of 2C-E will be understood, but for the moment, let it rest as being a difficult and worth-while material. A very much worth-while material. One Tweetio of 2C-E is known. The 5-EtO-homologue of 2C-E is 5-ethoxy-4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenethylamine, or 2CE-5ETO. The nitrostyrene intermediate had a melting point of 110-110.5 °C, and the final hydrochloride a melting point of 184-185 °C. The effective level of 2CE-5ETO is in the 10 to 15 milligram range. It is gentle, forgiving, and extremely long lived. Some 3 to 4 hours were needed to achieve plateau, and on occasion experi-ments were interrupted with Valium or Halcion at the 16 hour point. After a night's sleep, there were still some effects evident the next day. Thus, the dose is comparable to the parent compound 2C-E, but the duration is 2 to 3 times longer. It was given the nickname "Eternity" by one subject.
#25 3C-E; 3,5-DIMETHOXY-4-ETHOXYAMPHETAMINE
SYNTHESIS: A solution of 3.6 g syringaldehyde (3,5-dimethoxy-4- hydroxybenzaldehyde) in 50 mL MeOH was combined with a solution of 3.7 g 85% KOH in 75 mL warm MeOH. This clear solution suddenly set up to crystals of the potassium salt, too thick to stir satisfactorily. To this suspension there was added 7.4 g ethyl iodide (a large excess) and the mixture was held at reflux temperature with a heating mantle. The solids eventually loosened and redissolved, giving a clear amber-colored smooth-boiling solution. Refluxing was maintained for 2 days, then all volatiles were removed under vacuum. The residue was dissolved in 400 mL H2O, made strongly basic with 25% NaOH, and extracted with 4x100 mL CH2Cl2. The pooled extracts were washed with saturated brine, and the solvent removed under vacuum to give 3.3 g of a pale amber oil which set up as crystals of 3,5-dimethoxy-4-ethoxybenzaldehyde with a mp of 47-48 °C. A small sample recrystallized from methanol had a mp of 48-49 °C.
A solution of 3.3 g 3,5-dimethoxy-4-ethoxybenzaldehyde in 25 mL nitroethane was treated with 0.5 g anhydrous ammonium acetate and heated on the steam bath for 36 h. The solvent/reagent was removed under vacuum giving a thick yellow-orange oil that was dissolved in two volumes hot MeOH. As this cooled, crystals appeared spontaneously, and after cooling in ice for a short time, these were removed by filtration and washed sparingly with cold MeOH, Air drying to constant weight provided 2.2 g 1-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-nitropropene with a mp of 84-85 °C. The mother liquors, on standing overnight, deposited large chunks of crystalline material which was isolated by decantation, ground up under a small amount of methanol, then recrystallized from 60% EtOH. A second crop of 0.7 g of the nitrostyrene was thus obtained, as canary-yellow crystals with a mp of 83-85 °C.
A solution of 2.7 g 1-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-nitropropene in 20 mL anhydrous THF was added to a suspension of 2.0 g LAH in 150 mL warm THF. The mixture was held at reflux for 48 h. After stirring at room temperature for another 48 h, the excess hydride was destroyed by the addition of 2.0 mL H2O in 10 mL THF, followed by 2.0 mL 15% NaOH and then an additional 6.0 mL H2O. The inorganic salts were removed by filtration, and the filter cake washed with THF. The combined mother liquor and washings were stripped of solvent under vacuum leaving a yellow oil with some inorganic salts still in it. This was dissolved in 300 mL CH2Cl2, washed with dilute NaOH, and extracted with 3x150 mL 1 N HCl. The pooled extracts were washed once with CH2Cl2 made basic with 25% NaOH, and extracted with 3x100 mL CH2Cl2. The combined organics were washed with saturated brine, and the solvent removed under vacuum to yield about 2 mL of a colorless oil. This was dissolved in 10 mL IPA, neutralized with concentrated HCl (10 drops were required), and diluted with 125 mL anhydrous Et2O. The slight cloudiness gradually became the formation of fine white crystals. After standing at room temperature for 2 h, these were removed, Et2O washed, and air dried. There was thus obtained 1.9 g of 3,5-dimethoxy-4-ethoxyamphetamine hydrochloride (3C-E) as brilliant white crystals.
DOSAGE: 30 - 60 mg.
DURATION: 8 - 12 h.
QUALITATIVE COMMENTS: (with 40 mg) It developed into a strange and indefinable something. It is unworldly. I am very much in control, but with an undertone of unreality that is a little reminiscent of high doses of LSD. If there were a great deal of sensory input, I might not see it. And if I were in complete sensory quiet I would miss it, too. But just where I am, I can see it. Eerie state of awareness. And by the 8th hour I am sober, with no residue except for some slight teeth clenching, and pretty much disbelieving the whole thing.
(with 60 mg) Visuals very strong, insistent. Body discomfort remained very heavy for first hour. Sense of implacable imposition of something toxic for a while. I felt at the mercy of uncomfortable physical effects Q faint or pre-nausea, heavy feeling of tremor (although tremor actually relatively light) and general dis-ease, un-ease, non-ease. Kept lying down so as to be as comfortable as possible. Fantasy began to be quite strong. At first, no eyes closed images, and certainly anti-erotic. 2nd hour on, bright colors, distinct shapes Q jewel-like Q with eyes closed. Suddenly it became clearly not anti-erotic. That was the end of my bad place, and I shot immediately up to a +++. Complex fantasy which takes over Q hard to know what is real, what is fantasy. Continual erotic. Image of glass-walled apartment building in mid-desert. Exquisite sensitivity. Down by ? midnight. Next morning, faint flickering lights on looking out windows.
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: This is an interesting closing of the circle. Although mescaline launched the entire show, the first half could be called the amphetamine period, with variations made on all aspects of the molecule except for that three-carbon chain. And it was found that the 4-substitution position was of paramount importance in both the potency and the quality of action of a compound. Then, looking at the long-ignored chain, lengthening it by the addition of a carbon atom eliminated all psychedelic effects and gave materials with reduced action. The action present was that of an antidepressant. But removing a carbon atom? This returned the search to the world of mescaline, but with the knowledge of the strong influence of the 4-position substituent. The two-carbon side-chain world was rediscovered, principally with 2C-B and 2C-D, and the 4-ethoxy-analogue of mescaline, E. This second half of the show could be called the phenethylamine period. And with compounds such as 3C-E which is, quite simply, Escaline (or E) reextended again to a 3-carbon chain amphetamine, there is a kind of satisfying closure. A fascinating compound, but for most subjects a little too heavy on the body.
#26 2C-F; 2,5-DIMETHOXY-4-FLUOROPHENETHYLAMINE
SYNTHESIS: A solution of 76.6 g 2,5-dimethoxyaniline in 210 mL H2O containing 205 mL fluoroboric acid was cooled to 0 °C. with an external ice bath. There was then added, slowly, a solution of 35 g sodium nitrite in 70 mL H2O. After an additional 0.5 h stirring, the precipitated solids were removed by filtration, washed first with cold H2O, then with MeOH and finally Et2O. Air drying yielded about 100 g of the fluoroborate salt of the aniline as dark purple-brown solids. This salt was pyrolyzed with the cautious application of a flame, with the needed attention paid to both an explosion risk, and the evolution of the very corrosive boron trifluoride. The liquid that accumulated in the receiver was distilled at about 120 °C at 20 mm/Hg, and was subsequently washed with dilute NaOH to remove dissolved boron trifluoride. The product, 2,5-dimethoxyfluorobenzene, was a fluid, straw-colored oil that weighed 7.0 g.
To a vigorously stirred solution of 40.7 g 2,5-dimethoxyfluorobenzene in 215 mL CH2Cl2 cooled with an external ice bath, there was added 135 g of anhydrous stannic chloride. There was then added, dropwise, 26 g of dichloromethyl methyl ether at a rate that precluded excessive heating. The reaction mixture was allowed to come to room temperature over the course of 0.5 h, and then quenched by dumping into 500 g shaved ice containing 75 mL concentrated HCl. This mixture was stirred for an additional 1.5 h. The separated organic layer was washed with 2x100 mL dilute HCl, then with dilute NaOH, then with H2O and finally with saturated brine. Removal of the solvent under vacuum yielded a solid residue that was recrystallized from aqueous EtOH yielding 41.8 g 2,5-dimethoxy-4-fluorobenzaldehyde with a mp of 99-100 °C.
A solution of 2.5 g 2,5-dimethoxy-4-fluorobenzaldehyde in 15 mL acetic acid containing 1 g nitromethane was treated with 0.2 g anhydrous ammonium acetate, and heated on the steam bath for 4 h. After cooling, and following the judicious addition of H2O, crystals separated, and additional H2O was added with good stirring until the first signs of oiling out appeared. The solids were removed by filtration, and recrystallized from acetone to give 2.0 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-fluoro-'-nitrostyrene with a mp of 159-162 °C.
To a suspension of 2.0 g LAH in 200 mL cool anhydrous Et2O under an inert atmosphere, there was added a THF solution of 2.0 g 2,5-dimethoxy-4-fluoro-'-nitrostyrene. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 h and then heated briefly at reflux. After cooling, the excess hydride was destroyed by the cautious addition of H2O, and when the reaction was finally quiet, there was added 2 mL of 15% NaOH, followed by another 6 mL of H2O. The basic insolubles were removed by filtration, and washed with THF. The combined filtrate and washes were stripped of solvent, yielding a residual oil that was taken up in 10 mL of IPA, neutralized with concentrated HCl, and the generated solids diluted with anhydrous Et2O. The white crystalline 2,5-dimethoxy-4-fluorophenethylamine hydrochloride (2C-F) was recrystallized from IPA to give an air-dried product of 0.5 g with a mp of 182-185 °C.
DOSAGE: greater than 250 mg.
DURATION: unknown
QUALITATIVE COMMENTS: (with 250 mg) Even at 250 milligrams, the effects were slight and uncertain. There may have been some eyes-closed imagery above normal, but certainly not profound. At several hours there was a pleasant lethargy; sleep was completely normal that night.
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: A number of graded acute dosages were tried, and it was only with amounts in excess of 100 milligrams that there were any baseline disturbances at all. And at no dose that was tried was there any convincing indication of believable central effects.
The three-carbon amphetamine analogue of 2C-F would quite logically be called DOF (2,5-dimethoxy-4-fluoroamphetamine). It has been prepared by reaction of the above benzaldehyde with nitroethane (giving 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-fluorophenyl)-2-nitropropene, with a melting point of 128-129 °C from ethanol) followed by LAH reduction to DOF (the hydrochloride salt has a melting point of 166-167 °C, after recrystallization from ether/ethyl acetate/ethanol). Animal studies that have compared DOF to the highly potent DOI and DOB imply that the human activity will be some four to six times less than these two heavier halide analogues. As of the present time, no human trials of DOF have been made.
#27 2C-G; 2,5-DIMETHOXY-3,4-DIMETHYLPHENETHYLAMINE
SYNTHESIS: To a clear solution of 40.4 g flake KOH in 400 mL warm EtOH there was added 86.5 g 2,3-xylenol followed by 51.4 g methyl iodide. This mixture was held at reflux for 2 days, stripped of volatiles under vacuum, the residues dissolved in 1 L of H2O, and extracted with 4x200 mL CH2Cl2. The pooled extracts were washed with 5% NaOH until the washes remained basic. Following a single washing with dilute HCl, the solvent was removed under vacuum, and the residue, 41.5 g of a pungent smelling amber oil, spontaneously crystallized. The mp of 2,3-dimethylanisole was 25-26 °C and it was used without further purification in the next step. From the aqueous basic washes, following acidification, extraction, and solvent removal, there was obtained 46.5 g crude unreacted xylenol which could be recycled.
A mixture of 205 g POCl3 and 228 g N-methylformanilide was allowed to incubate at room temperature until there was the development of a deep claret color with some spontaneous heating. To this, there was added 70.8 g 2,3-dimethylanisole, and the dark reaction mixture heated on the steam bath for 2.5 h. The product was then poured into 1.7 L H2O, and stirred until there was a spontaneous crystallization. These solids were removed by filtration, H2O washed and air dried to give 77.7 g of crude benzaldehyde as brown crystals. This was distilled at 70-90 °C at 0.4 mm/Hg to give 64.8 g of 2,3-dimethyl-4-methoxybenzaldehyde as a white crystalline product with a mp of 51-52 °C. Recrystallization from MeOH produced an analytical sample with a mp of 55-55.5 °C. Anal. (C10H12O2) C,H. The malononitrile derivative (from the aldehyde and malononitrile in EtOH with a drop of triethylamine) had a mp of 133-133.5 °C from EtOH. Anal. (C13H12N2O) C,H,N. Recently, this aldehyde has become commercially available.
A solution of 32.4 g 2,3-dimethyl-4-methoxybenzaldehyde in 800 mL CH2Cl2 was treated with 58.6 g 85% m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid and held at reflux for 3 days. After cooling to room temperature, the white solids (m-chlorobenzoic acid) were removed by filtration (about 40 g when dry). The filtrate was extracted with several portions of saturated NaHCO3 (on acidification, this aqueous wash yielded additional m-chlorobenzoic acid) and the organic solvent removed under vacuum. The crystalline residue (weighing 32 g and deeply colored) was dissolved in 150 mL boiling MeOH to which there was added 18 g of solid NaOH and the solution heated on the steam bath for a few min. The mixture was added to 800 mL H2O, and a little surface scum mechanically removed with a piece of filter paper. The solution was acidified with concentrated HCl, depositing 30.9 g of a tan solid. Recrystallization from H2O gave 2,3-dimethyl-4-methoxyphenol as white needles, with a mp of 95-96 °C. Anal. (C9H12O2) H; C: calcd, 71.06; found 70.20. The N-methyl carbamate was made by the treatment of a solution of the phenol (1 g in 75 mL hexane with 5 mL CH2Cl2 added) with 2 g methyl isocyanate and a few drops of triethyl amine. The pale pink solids that separated were recrystallized from MeOH to give a product that had a mp of 141-142 °C. Anal. (C11H15NO3) C,H,N.
To a solution of 23.1 g flake KOH in 250 mL hot EtOH there was added 61.8 g 2,3-dimethyl-4-methoxyphenol followed by 60 g methyl iodide. This was held under reflux for 12 h, then stripped of solvent under vacuum. The residue was dissolved in 1.2 L H2O, acidified with HCl, and extracted with 3x200 mL CH2Cl2. The combined extracts were washed with 3x100 mL 5% NaOH, and the solvent was removed under vacuum. The residue set up as an off-white mass of leaflets weighing 37.7 g after filtering and air drying. Recrystallization from MeOH gave 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-dimethoxybenzene as white solids, with a mp of 78-79 °C. Anal. (C10H14O2) C,H. An alternate route leading from 2,3-xylenol to this diether via nitrogen-containing intermediates was explored. The sequence involved the reaction of 2,3-xylenol with nitrous acid (4-nitroso product, mp 184 °C dec.), reduction with sodium dithionite (4-amino product, mp about 175 °C), oxidation with nitric acid (benzoquinone, mp 58 °C), reduction with sodium dithionite (hydro-quinone) and final methylation with methyl iodide. The yields were inferior with this process.
A mixture of 88 g POCl3 and 99 g N-methylformanilide was allowed to incubate until a deep claret color had formed, then it was treated with 36.5 g 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-dimethoxybenzene and heated on the steam bath for 3 h. It was then poured into 1 L H2O, and stirred until the formation of a loose, crumbly, dark crystalline mass was complete. This was removed by filtration, and dissolved in 300 mL CH2Cl2. After washing first with H2O, then with 5% NaOH, and finally with dilute HCl, the solvent was removed under vacuum yielding 39.5 g of a black oil that solidified. This was extracted with 2x300 mL boiling hexane, the extracts were pooled, and the solvent removed under vacuum. The yellowish residue crystallized to give 32.7 g 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde with a mp of 46-47 °C. Repeated recrystallization from MeOH raised the mp to 59-60 °C. The malononitrile derivative was prepared (aldehyde and malononitrile in EtOH with a few drops triethyl amine) as yellow crystals from EtOH, with a mp of 190-191 °C. Anal. (C14H14N2O2) C,H; N: calcd, 11.56; found, 11.06, 11.04.
To a solution of 16.3 g 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde in 50 mL nitromethane there was added 3.0 g anhydrous ammonium acetate, and the mixture was heated on the steam bath overnight. There was then added an equal volume of MeOH, and with cooling there was obtained a fine crop of yellow crystals. These were removed by filtration, washed with MeOH, and air dried to provide 4.4 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-dimethyl-'-nitrostyrene with a mp of 120-121 °C which was not improved by recrystallization from MeOH (50 mL/g). The mother liquors of the above filtration were diluted with H2O to the point of permanent turbidity, then set aside in a cold box. There was a chunky, granular, tomato-red crystal deposited which weighed 2.5 g when dry. It had a mp of 118-119.5 °C, which was undepressed in mixed mp with the yellow sample. Both forms had identical NMR spectra (2.20, 2.25 CH3; 3.72, 3.84 OCH3; 6.80 ArH; 7.76, 8.28 CH=CH, with 14 cycle splitting), infrared spectra, ultra violet spectra (max. 324 nm with shoulder at 366 nm in EtOH, two peaks at 309 and 355 nm in hexane), and microanalyses. Anal. (C12H15NO4) C,H,N.
A solution of LAH (56 mL of a 1 M solution in THF) was cooled, under He, to 0 °C with an external ice bath. With good stirring there was added 1.52 mL 100% H2SO4 dropwise, to minimize charring. This was followed by the addition of 3.63 g 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-dimethyl-'-nitrostyrene in 36 mL anhydrous THF over the course of 1 h. After a few minutes further stirring, the temperature was brought up to a gentle reflux on the steam bath for about 5 min, then all was cooled again to 0 °C. The excess hydride was destroyed by the cautious addition of 9 mL IPA followed by 2.5 mL 15% NaOH and finally 7.5 mL H2O. The reaction mixture was filtered, and the filter cake washed first with THF and then with IPA. The filtrate was stripped of solvent under vacuum and the residue was distilled at 110-120 °C at 0.2 mm/Hg to give 2.07 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-dimethylphenethylamine as a clear white oil. This was dissolved in 10 mL IPA, neutralized with concentrated HCl, and then diluted with 25 mL anhydrous Et2O. The crystals that formed were filtered, Et2O washed, and air dried to constant weight. There was obtained 2.13 g of beautiful white crystals of 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-dimethylphenethylamine hydrochloride (2C-G) with a mp of 232-233 °C. Anal. (C12H20ClNO2) C,H.
DOSAGE: 20 - 35 mg.
DURATION: 18 - 30 h.
QUALITATIVE COMMENTS: (with 22 mg) I am completely functional, with writing and answering the telephone, but the coffee really tastes most strange. While the mental effects (to a ++ only) were dispersing, the body still had quite a bit of memory of the day. Sleep was fine, and desirable, in the early evening.
(with 32 mg) Superb material, to be classified as a 'true psychedelic' unless one is publishing, in which case it could be best described as an 'insight-enhancer' and obviously of potential value in psychotherapy (if one would wish to spend 30 hours in a therapy session°). I suppose it would be best to simply stick with the insight-enhancing and skip the psychotherapy. Just too, too long. There was not any particular visual impact, at least for me. The non-sexual and the anorexic aspects might indeed change, with increasing familiarity. Remains to be seen. The length of the experience is against its frequent use, of course, which is a pity, since this one is well worth investigating as often as possible.
(with 32 mg) There was, at the very beginning, a certain feeling of non-physical heat in the upper back which reminded me of the onset of various indoles, which this ain't. The energy tremor was quite strong throughout, but somehow the body was generally at ease.
(with 32 mg) At a plateau at two hours, with just a bit of tummy queasi-ness. And I am still at the plateau several hours later. Sleep finally at the 18th hour, but even after getting up and doing all kinds of things the next day, I was not completely baseline until that evening. And a couple of days more for what is certainly complete repair. That is a lot of mileage for a small amount of material.
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: Here is the first example, ever, of a phen-ethylamine that is of about the same potency as therelated three-carbon amphetamine. At first approximation, one is hard put to distinguish, from the recorded notes, any major differences either in potency, in duration, or in the nature of activity, between 2C-G and GANESHA itself.
I had always thought of the phenethylamines as being somewhat weaker than the corresponding amphetamines. Sometimes a little weaker and sometimes a lot weaker. But that is a totally prejudiced point of view, an outgrowth of my earliest comparisons of mescaline and TMA. That's the kind of thing that can color one's thinking and obscure what may be valuable observations. It is equally valid to think of the phenethylamines as the prototypes, and that the amphetamines are somewhat stronger than the corresponding phenethylamines. Sometimes a little stronger and sometimes a lot stronger. Then the question suddenly shifts from asking what is different about the phenethylamines, to what is different about the amphetamines? It is simply a historic fact, that in most of my exploring, the amphetamine was made and evaluated first, and so tended to slip into the role of the prototype. In any case, here the two potencies converge.
#28 2C-G-3; 2,5-DIMETHOXY-3,4-(TRIMETHYLENE)PHENETHYLAMINE; 5-(2-AMINOETHYL)-4,7-DIMETHOXYINDANE)
SYNTHESIS: To a solution of 22 g of KOH in 250 mL of hot EtOH, there was added 50 g of 4-indanol and 75 g methyl iodide. The mixture was held at reflux for 12 h. There was then added an additional 22 g KOH followed by an additional 50 g of methyl iodide. Refluxing was continued for an additional 12 h. The mixture was poured into 1 L H2O, acidified with HCl, and extracted with 3x75 mL CH2Cl2. The pooled extracts were washed with 5% NaOH, then with dilute HCl, and the solvent was removed under vacuum. The residue of crude 2,3-(trimethylene)anisole weighed 56.5 g and was used without further purification in the following reaction.
A mixture of 327 g N-methylformanilide and 295 g POCl3 was allowed to incubate until a deep claret color had formed. To this there was then added 110 g of crude 2,3-(trimethylene)anisole, and the mixture heated on the steam bath. There was a vigorous evolution of gases, which largely quieted down after some 4 h of heating. The reaction mixture was added to 4 L H2O and stirred overnight. The oily aqueous phase was extracted with 3x200 mL CH2Cl2, and after combining the extracts and removal of the solvent there was obtained 147 g of a black, sweet-smelling oil. This was distilled at 182-194 °C at the water pump to yield 109.1 g of a pale yellow oil. At low temperature, this crystallized, but the solids melted again at room temperature. Gas chromatography of this product on OV-17 at 185 °C showed detectable starting anisole and N-methylformanilide (combined, perhaps 5% of the product) and a small but real isomeric peak, (about 5%, slightly faster moving than the title aldehyde, again about 5% of the product) of what was tentatively identified as the ortho-aldehyde (2-methoxy-3,4-(trimethylene)-benzaldehyde). The bulk of this crude product (74 g) was redistilled at 110-130 °C at 0.3 mm/Hg to give 66 g of 4-methoxy-2,3-(trimethylene)benzaldehyde as a nearly colorless oil which set up as a crystalline solid. A portion on porous plate showed a mp of 28-29 C. A gram of this aldehyde and a gram of malononitrile in 25 mL of EtOH was treated with a few drops of triethylamine and gave pale yellow crystals of the malononitrile derivative. This, upon recrystallization from 50 mL boiling EtOH, had a mp of 176-176.5 °C. Anal. (C14H12N2O) C,H,N. A side path, other than towards the intended targets 2C-G-3 and G-3, was explored. Reaction with nitroethane and anhydrous ammonium acetate gave the 2-nitropropene analogue which was obtained in a pure state (mp 74-75 °C from MeOH) only after repeated extraction of the crude isolate with boiling hexane. Reduction with elemental iron gave the phenylacetone analogue which was reductively aminated with dimethylamine and sodium cyanoborohydride to give N,N-dimethyl-4-methoxy-2,3-(trimethylene)amphetamine. This was designed for brain blood-flow volume studies after iodination at the 5-position, a concept that has been discussed under IDNNA. It has never been tasted by anyone. The corresponding primary amine, 4-methoxy-2,3-(trimethylene)amphetamine has not yet even been synthesized.
A solution of 34.8 g 4-methoxy-2,3-(trimethylene)benzaldehyde in 800 mL CH2Cl2 was treated with 58.6 g of 85% m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid and held at reflux for 3 days. After cooling and standing for a few days, the solids were removed by filtration and washed sparingly with CH2Cl2. The combined filtrate and washings were washed with 200 mL saturated NaHCO3, and the solvent removed, yielding 43.5 g of a deeply colored oil. This was dissolved in 150 mL MeOH to which was added 9 g NaOH and all heated to reflux on the steam bath. After 1 h, a solution of 9 g NaOH in 20 mL H2O was added, heated further, then followed by yet another treatment with 9 g NaOH in 20 mL H2O followed by additional heating. All was added to 800 mL H2O, washed once with CH2Cl2 (which removed a trivial amount of material) and then acidified with HCl. The dark crystals that were generated were filtered and air dried to constant weight, yielding 27.5 g dark but nice-looking crystals with a mp of 89-91 °C. By all counts, this should have been the product phenol, 4-methoxy-2,3-(trimethylene)phenol, but the microanalysis indicated that the formate ester was still there. Anal. (C10H12O2) requires C = 73.08, H = 7.37. (C11H12O3) requires C = 68.73, H = 6.29. Found: C = 69.04, 68.84; H = 6.64, 6.58. Whatever the exact chemical status of the phenolic hydroxyl group might have been, it reacted successfully in the following methylation step.
To a solution of 10 g KOH in 100 g EtOH (containing 5% IPA) there was added 27.5 g of the above 89-91 °C melting material, followed by 25 g methyl iodide. The mixture was held at reflux overnight. All was added to 800 mL H2O, acidified with HCl, and extracted with 3x100 mL CH2Cl2. The combined extracts were washed with 3x100 mL 5% NaOH, then once with dilute HCl, and the solvent removed under vacuum yielding 20.4 g of a fragrant crystalline residue. This was recrystallized from 60 mL boiling MeOH to give, after filtering and air drying, 16.0 g of 1,4-dimethoxy-2,3-(trimethylene)benzene (4,7-dimethoxyindane) with a mp of 86-88 °C. Anal. (C11H14O2) C,H.
To a mixture of 39.0 g of N-methylformanilide and 35.9 g POCl3 that had been allowed to stand at ambient temperature until deeply claret (about 45 min) there was added 15.8 g of 1,4-dimethoxy-2,3-(trimethylene)benzene. The mixture was heated on the steam bath for 4 h and then poured into 600 mL H2O. After stirring overnight there was produced a heavy crystalline mass. This was removed by filtration and, after air drying, was extracted with 3x100 mL boiling hexane. Pooling and cooling these extracts yielded 9.7 g of salmon-colored crystals with a mp of 67-68 °C. This was recrystallized from 25 mL boiling EtOH to give, after filtration, EtOH washing, and air drying to constant weight, 7.4 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-(trimethylene)benzaldehyde, with a mp of 71-72 °C. The mother liquors on cautious treatment with H2O, yielded, after EtOH recrystallization, 1 g additional product. Anal. (C12H14O3) C,H. A solution of 150 mg aldehyde and an equal weight of malononitrile in 2.3 mL EtOH treated with 3 drops triethylamine gave immediate yellow crystals of the malononitrile derivative, with a mp of 161-162 °C. Anal. (C15H14N2O2) C,H,N.
A solution 3.7 g 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-(trimethylene)benzaldehyde in 15 g nitromethane was treated with 0.7 g anhydrous ammonium acetate and heated on the steam bath for 14 h. The volatiles were removed under vacuum, and the residue set up to 3.5 g dark crystals, which melted broadly between 126-138 °C. Recrystallization of the entire mass from 70 mL boiling EtOH gave 3.2 g burnished gold crystals with a mp of 129-137 °C. A further recrystallization of an analytical sample from MeOH gave 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-(trimethylene)-'-nitrostyrene as yellow crystals with a mp of 146-147 °C. Anal. (C13H15NO4) C,H.
To a cold solution of LAH in THF (40 mL of a 1 M solution) well stirred and under an inert atmosphere, there was added dropwise 1.05 mL freshly prepared 100% H2SO4. There was then added, dropwise, a solution of 2.39 g 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-(trimethylene)-'-nitrostyrene in 25 mL THF. The bright yellow color was discharged immediately. After the addition was complete, stirring was continued for an additional 20 min, and the reaction mixture brought to a reflux on the steam bath for another 0.5 h. After cooling, the excess hydride was destroyed with IPA (8 mL required) followed by sufficient 15% NaOH to convert the inorganics into a loose, filterable mass. This was removed by filtration, and the filter cake washed with THF. The combined filtrate and washes were stripped of solvent under vacuum, and the residue dissolved in dilute H2SO4. After washing with CH2Cl2, the aqueous phase was made basic with 25% NaOH and extracted with 3x75 mL CH2Cl2. After removal of the solvent under vacuum, the residue was distilled at 125-160 °C at 0.45 mm/Hg to yield 0.80 g of a white oil. This was dissolved in 8 mL IPA, neutralized with 20 drops of concentrated HCl (the salt crystals started to form before this was completed) followed with the addition of 65 mL anhydrous Et2O. The white crystalline mass was filtered, washed with Et2O, and air dried to provide 1.16 g of 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-(trimethylene)phenethylamine hydrochloride (2C-G-3) with a mp of 214-216 °C with decomposition. Anal. (C13H20ClNO2) C,H.
DOSAGE: 16 - 25 mg.
DURATION: 12 - 24 h.
QUALITATIVE COMMENTS: (with 16 mg) It came on in little leaps and bounds. All settled, and then it would take another little jump upwards. I am totally centered, and writing is easy. My appetite is modest. Would I drive to town to return a book to the library? No ever-loving way° I am very content to be right here where I am safe, and stay with the writing. It does take so much time to say what wants to be said, but there is no quick way. A word at a time.
(with 22 mg) I walked out for the mail at just about twilight. That was the most courageous thing that I could possibly have done, just for one lousy postcard and a journal. What if I had met someone who had wanted to talk? Towards evening I got a call from Peg who said her bean soup was bubbling in a scary way and what should she do, and I said maybe better make soap. It was that kind of an experience° Way up there, lots of LSD-like sparkles, and nothing quite really making sense. Marvelous.
(with 25 mg) There was easy talking, and no hint of any body concern. Sleep that evening was easy, and the next day was with good energy.
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: The positives of a completely intriguing altered state free from apparent physical threats, are here coupled with the negative of having to invest such a long period of time. There is a merry nuttiness which can give a joyous intoxication, but with the underlying paranoia of how it looks to others. There is an ease of communication, but only within surroundings that are well-known and friendly. This might be a truly frightening experience if it were in an unfamiliar or unstructured environment.
The numbering of this compound, and all the extensions of GANESHA, have been made on the basis of the nature of the stuff at the 3,4-position. Here there are three atoms (the trimethylene bridge) and so 2C-G-3 seems reasonable. With this logic, the dimethylene bridge would be 2C-G-2 (and the corresponding amphetamine would be G-2, of course). But these compounds call upon a common intermediate which is a benzocyclobutene, OK in principle but not yet OK in practice. The right benzyne reaction will be there someday, and the dimethylene analogues will be made and assayed. But, in the meantime, at least the names have been assigned.
#29 2C-G-4; 2,5-DIMETHOXY-3,4-(TETRAMETHYLENE)PHENETHYLAMINE; 6-(2-AMINOETHYL)-5,8-DIMETHOXY-TETRALIN
SYNTHESIS: To a solution of 49.2 g 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthol (5-hydroxytetralin) in 100 mL MeOH, there was added 56 g methyl iodide followed by a solution of 24.8 g KOH pellets (85% purity) in 100 mL boiling MeOH. The mixture was heated in a 55 °C bath for 3 h (the first white solids of potassium iodide appeared in about 10 min). The solvent was stripped under vacuum, and the residues dissolved in 2 L H2O. This was acidified with HCl, and extracted with 4x75 mL CH2Cl2. After washing the organic phase with 3x75 mL 5% NaOH, the solvent was removed under vacuum to give 48.2 g of a black residue. This was distilled at 80-100 °C at 0.25 mm/Hg to provide 33.9 g 5-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene as a white oil. The NaOH washes, upon acidification and extraction with CH2Cl2 gave, after removal of the solvent under vacuum and distillation of the residue at 0.35 mm/Hg, 11.4 g of recovered starting phenol.
A mixture of 61.7 g POCl3 and 54.3 g N-methylformanilide was heated on the steam bath for 15 min which produced a deep red color. This was added to 54.3 g of 5-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, and the mixture was heated on the steam bath for 2 h. The reaction mixture was quenched in 1.2 L H2O with very good stirring. The oils generated quickly turned to brown granular solids, which were removed by filtration. The 79 g of wet product was finely triturated under an equal weight of MeOH, filtered, washed with 20 mL ice-cold MeOH, and air dried to yield 32.0 g of 4-methoxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthaldehyde as an ivory-colored solid. The filtrate, on standing, deposited another 4.5 g of product which was added to the above first crop. An analytical sample was obtained by recrystallization from EtOH, and had a mp of 57-58 °C. Anal. (C12H14O2) C,H.
To a solution of 25.1 g 4-methoxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthaldehyde in 300 mL CH2Cl2 there was added 25 g 85% m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid at a rate that was commensurate with the exothermic reaction. Solids were apparent within a few min. The stirred reaction mixture was heated at reflux for 8 h. After cooling to room temperature, the solids were removed by filtration and washed lightly with CH2Cl2. The pooled filtrate and washes were stripped of solvent under vacuum and the residue dissolved in 100 mL MeOH and treated with 40 mL 25% NaOH. This was heated on the steam bath for an hour, added to 1 L H2O, and acidified with HCl, producing a heavy crystalline mass. This was removed by filtration, air dried, and distilled at up to 170 °C at 0.2 mm/Hg. There was thus obtained 21.4 g of 4-methoxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthol as an off-white solid with a mp of 107-114 °C. An analytical sample was obtained by recrystallization from 70% EtOH, and melted at 119-120 °C. Hexane is also an excellent recrystallization solvent. Anal. (C11H14O2) C,H. As an alternate method, the oxidation of the naphthaldehyde to the naphthol can be achieved through heating the aldehyde in acetic acid solution containing hydrogen peroxide. The yields using this route are consistently less than 40% of theory.
A solution of 21.0 g of 4-methoxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthol in 100 mL acetone in a 1 L round-bottomed flask, was treated with 25 g finely ground anhydrous K2CO3 and 26 g methyl iodide. The mixture was held at reflux on the steam bath for 2 h, cooled, and quenched in 1 L H2O. Trial extraction evaluations have shown that the starting phenol, as well as the product ether, are extractable into CH2Cl2 from aqueous base. The aqueous reaction mixture was extracted with 3x60 mL CH2Cl2, the solvent removed under vacuum, and the residue (19.6 g) was distilled at 90-130 °C at 0.3 mm/Hg to give 14.1 g of an oily white solid mixture of starting material and product. This was finely ground under an equal weight of hexane, and the residual crystalline solids removed by filtration. These proved to be quite rich in the desired ether. This was dissolved in a hexane/CH2Cl2 mixture (3:1 by volume) and chromatographed on a silica gel preparative column, with the eluent continuously monitored by TLC (with this solvent system, the Rf of the ether product was 0.5, of the starting phenol 0.1). The fractions containing the desired ether were pooled, the solvent removed under vacuum and the residue, which weighed 3.86 g, was dissolved in 1.0 mL hexane and cooled with dry ice. Glistening white crystals were obtained by filtration at low temperature. The weight of 5,8-dimethoxytetralin isolated was 2.40 g and the mp was 44-45 °C. GCMS analysis showed it to be largely one product (m/s 192 parent peak and major peak), but the underivitized starting phenol has abysmal GC properties and TLC remains the best measure of chemical purity.
A well-stirred solution of 3.69 g 5,8-dimethoxytetralin in 35 mL CH2Cl2 was placed in an inert atmosphere and cooled to 0 °C with an external ice bath. There was then added, at a slow rate, 4.5 mL anhydrous stannic chloride, which produced a transient color that quickly faded to a residual yellow. There was then added 2.0 mL dichloromethyl methyl ether, which caused immediate darkening. After a few min stirring, the reaction mixture was allowed to come to room temperature, and finally to a gentle reflux on the steam bath. The evolution of HCl was continuous. The reaction was then poured into 200 mL H2O, the phases separated, and the aqueous phase extracted with 2x50 mL CH2Cl2. The organic phase and extracts were pooled, washed with 3x50 mL 5% NaOH, and the solvent removed under vacuum. The residue was distilled at 120-140 °C at 0.3 mm/Hg to give 3.19 g of a white oil that spontaneously crystallized. The crude mp of 1,4-dimethoxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthaldehyde was 70-72 °C. An analytical sample from hexane had the mp 74-75 °C. The GCMS analysis showed only a single material (m/s 220, 100%) with no apparent starting dimethoxytetralin present. Attempts to synthesize this aldehyde by the Vilsmeier procedure (POCl3 and N-methylformanilide) gave complex mixtures of products. Synthetic efforts employing butyllithium and DMF gave only recovered starting material.
To a solution of 1.5 g 1,4-dimethoxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthaldehyde in 20 g nitromethane there was added 0.14 g anhydrous ammonium acetate and the mixture heated on the steam bath for 50 min. The rate of the reaction was determined by TLC monitoring, on silica gel with CH2Cl2 as the moving solvent; the Rf of the aldehyde was 0.70, and of the product nitrostyrene, 0.95. Removal of the volatiles under vacuum gave a residue that spontaneously crystallized. The fine yellow crystals that were obtained were suspended in 1.0 mL of MeOH, filtered, and air dried to yield 1.67 g 2,5-dimethoxy-'-nitro-3,4-(tetramethylene)styrene with a mp of 151.5-152.5 °C. Anal. (C14H17NO4) C,H.
DOSAGE: unknown.
DURATION: unknown
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: The road getting to this final product reminded me of the reasons why, during the first few billion years of the universe following the big bang, there was only hydrogen and helium. Nothing heavier. When everything had expanded enough to cool things sufficiently for the first actual matter to form, all was simply very energetic protons and neutrons. These were banging into one-another, making deuterium nuclei, and some of these got banged up even all the way to helium, but every time a helium nucleus collided with a particle of mass one, to try for something with mass five, the products simply couldn't exist. Both Lithium-5 and Helium-5 have the impossible half-lives of 10 to the minus 21 seconds. Hence, in the primordial soup, the only way to get into something heavier than helium was to have a collision between a couple of the relatively scarcer heavy nuclei, or to have a three body collision. Both of these would be extremely rare events, statistically. And if a few got through, there was another forbidden barrier at mass 8, since Beryllium-8 has a half life of 10 to the minus 16 seconds. So everything had to wait for a few suns to burn down so that they could process enough helium into heavy atoms, to achieve some nuclear chemistry that was not allowed in the early history of the universe.
And in the same way, there were two nearly insurmountable barriers encountered in getting to 2C-G-4 and G-4. The simple act of methylating an aromatic hydroxyl group provided mixtures that could only be resolved into components by some pretty intricate maneuvers. And when that product was indeed gotten, the conversion of it into a simple aromatic aldehyde resisted the classic procedures completely, either giving complex messes, or nothing. And even now, with these two hurdles successfully passed, the presumed simple last step has not yet been done. The product 2C-G-4 lies just one synthetic step (the LAH reduction) away from completion, and the equally fascinating G-4 also that one last reduction step from being completed. Having gotten through the worst of the swamp, let's get into the lab and finish up this challenge. They will both be active compounds.
