In the course of my quest for novel recreational drugs I came across some patents which might be of interest for those involved in the exploration of more traditional compounds:
Patent US2802865
Teaches the preparation of methcathinone (alpha-methylaminopropiophenone) by oxidizing ephedrine with sodium dichromate in H2SO4/water.
Patent US3282959
7-Chloro-alpha-Methyltryptamine Derivatives
Might be interesting for the friends of tryptamines.
Patent EP648744
Teaches an interesting way to split off an alpha-OH from a phenylalkylalkohol, using a borane dimethylsulfide complex. (Example 6, page 17)