Mephedrone can exist as two isomers, R and S.

[4synergy]

The two isomers, R and S, are chemically similar but not identical molecules. In other words, the R-isomer of a drug will not necessarily behave the same way as the S-isomer of the same drug when taken by a person. You could say that each isomer is like a different drug.

Gregg and Baumann (2014) demonstrated that the S-isomer of mephedrone is more serotonergic, which would confer similar properties to MDMA; while the R-isomer is known to be more stimulatory.

The precursor of mephedrone is 2-bromo-4'-methylpropiophenone indicates that the syntheses we are carrying out are racemic (50/50).

Correct?

Now my questions are:

- How can we produce only one of the two isomers ?

- Are we sure to produce 4-MMD or 4-MEC (It makes me wonder because Dr. Zee (Israeli chemist credited with discovering mephedrone in 2004) clearly says that mephedrone does not create rice fragments in crystallization.) ?

- Are we sure of the percursor that arrives ?

- My clients have noticed a difference between the mephedrones tried, some with a more violent hit, others calmer and more manageable. Could this difference depend on the isomer?

 

[TheVacuumGuy]

There is no way to produce a given isomer on purpose.

The difference that clients notice could be anything. From setting and mental state when using, to small differences in batches produced.

 

[CCL4 huffer]

i mean u can. just use the gringard route starting out from m methyl benzaldehyde. otherwise u could use a meta directiong method ig but that would still produce trace amounts of the other 2 isomers also prolly pretty tedious.

 

[TheVacuumGuy]

There are methods like oxidizing a specific methylephedrine, but afaik none which produces only homochiral compound.

 

[Osmosis Vanderwaal]

A meta director only directs a molecule to attach itself to the 3 or 5 position of a phenyl. To change the chirality of a molecule you need a radical reaction or a second order reaction, which inverts the chirality by backside attack,
If one uses a chiral precursor, they will get a chiral result if the methyl ephedrine you use is 1s,2r, then it'll be 100% R(D)

 

[DavidNichols]

There are at least 5 simple ways to make particular enantiomer, but no reason to do that. S-Meph is a lame antidepressant, R-Meph is the source of fun, but only together they produce infamous euphoria and addiction. Setting and mental state has close to 0 effect on mephedrone action, but different person have different idiosyncrasy.

 

[mefistofeles]

have you taken both alone to make that statement?

 

[mefistofeles]

what is 4-MMD?

 

[Null]

- be very skeptical of Dr Zee

- I've asked a mephedrone chef about this and they said the isomers enhance each other's effects so separating is pointless

- Chiral Resolution was the answer the Meth cooks created/used

 

[BabaNest]

why are you skeptical of Dr Zee?

 

[Pororo]

It is an interesting topic. As being i fan of isomeristion of different substances i will probably put my dirty hands in it.