Unusual precursors watched

[legal]

There is a drug precursor list under

http://www.kmf-laborchemie.de/pdf/GUEG_Liste_A_Drogen-Vorprodukte.pdf

with a few unusual precursors. Why do they watch chemicals like

4-methylpentan-2-one
bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate
2-methylbenzoxazole
ethyl trifluoracetate

Does anybee know for which synthesis these precursors are used?

[ning]

4-methylpentan-2-one = methyl isobutyl ketone

It is used (supposedly) for cocaine extraction

http://www.erowid.org/freedom/law/federal_register/60.FR.19509.shtml

--------------------------

bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate

it's a strong lipophilic acid, that can be used as a soap, phase transfer catalyst, or, notably, to extract rare earth metals like rhodium. (hydrogenation catalysts) Also see the below abstract, where they extract catecholamines, suggesting perhaps use in ephedrine extractions.

Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan, vol 32 no 1 pp 76-81  (1999) [Japanese]

Solvent Extraction and QSPR of Catecholamines with a Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Hydrogen Phosphate

KAZUHARU YOSHIZUKA, YUKO FUJIMOTO, KEISUKE OHTO AND KATSUTOSHI INOUE

Department of Applied Chemistry, Saga University, Saga 840-8502, Japan

Keywords: Extraction, QSPR, Catecholamine, Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Hydrogen Phosphate, Molecular Modeling

In order to develop an effective separation process for catecholamine (CA), a basic investigation on solvent extraction of dopamine (DA), adrenaline (Ad) and noradrenaline (NA) from hydrochloric acid solution and their stripping is conducted at 30 C employing bis(2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphate (D2EHPA) in chloroform, n- hexane and toluene as the organic diluents. From the dependencies of the distribution ratios on the concentrations of reactant species, i.e. CA, hydrogen ion and D2EHPA, it is elucidated that CA (RNH2) is extracted with D2EHPA (HR') according to the ion exchange mechanism, as the complex type, RNH3R'(HR')3, and the equilibrium constants (Kex,CA) for the extraction reactions are also evaluated. The quantitative structure property relationship (QSPR) of Kex,CA vlaues for each organic diluent is discussed using molecular modeling with semi-empirical molecular orbital calculations considering the solvent effect.

also,

http://www.rhodia-ec.com/site_ec_us/our_expertise/page_extraction.htm

------------------
ethyl Trifluoroacetate

Is a good protecting agent for primary amines:

"The synthesis of the small-molecule ligands 3 and 4 is described in outline. Spermine 1 was non-symmetrically tri-t-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) protected in a one-pot reaction (Figure 3) [53,54]. Ethyl trifluoroacetate reacts rapidly and cleanly with primary amines, allowing poly-Boc protection of all the remaining amine functional groups. Trifluoroacetamides, e.g. 13, are easily cleaved, in the presence of Boc groups, at pH 11."

This may have some relevance to drug synthesis.

Alternately, one could hydrolyze it to yield trifluoroacetic acid, which might be transformable into trifluoroacetic anhydride, useful for LSD synthesis.

Is trifluoroacetic acid also watched?

[legal]

Thank you for your explanations. I`ve simply overlooked that 4-methylpentan-2-one is MIBK.

Both TFAA and the acid itself are not on their surveillane list.

The only remaining questionmark is 2-methylbenzoxazole.

[Pimpo]

This company, e.g. the main distributor of Merck, has 2-methylbenzoxazole on a list of volunteer watched chemicals, hard to say how other companies handle it, but better bee careful. Don't know either what it's good for.

[ning]

I can't say why, but I feel a strong suspicion it's used to make a synthetic opiate of some sort. Should do more searching.

[DrLucifer]

In order to develop an effective separation process for catecholamine (CA), a basic investigation on solvent extraction of dopamine (DA), adrenaline (Ad) and noradrenaline (NA) from hydrochloric acid solution

Does this mean that the various catecholamine's described, can be be extracted from hydrochloric acid, via solvent extraction? Is this true?
Hmmm, before i get too excited, I will do some research...
Might be worthwhile to see how medical adrenaline is synthesised, and whether its viable.  

[ning]

but perhaps all of that sort of amine can be sucked out of soln.?

Watch those lists in action, deterring drug chemists left and right
Kind of like how prison is described by some as the "College of Better Crime"...we'll have to thank those forward-looking lawmakers for helping in our education

[DrLucifer]

Adrenaline (C9H13NO3) is a catecholamine and belongs to the family of biogenic amines. It forms colourless to white crystals (mp: 211-212 °C). Adrenaline is air and light sensitive and forms dark products during decomposition.

L-adrenaline was first isolated from adrenal medulla, by two independent groups (Takamine, Aldrich and von Fürth) in 1900 and 1901. It was the first hormone which could be crystallized. The structure determination by Jowett and the first total chemical synthesis by Stolz were achieved in 1904. In 1950, Earl Sutherland was able to show that adrenaline and glucagone induce the metabolism of glycogene. This was the beginning of the determination of the molecular mechanism of hormonal effects.

This is how the original pioneers synthesised adrenaline.

The first total chemical synthesis of adrenaline was performed in 1904 by F. Stolz et al. pyrochatechol and chloro-acetylchloride react in the presence of phosphorchloridoxide to 3,4-dihydroxy- -chloracetophenone (Fries-rearrangement). After the conversion with methylamine, adrenalone will be reduced with sodiumamalgam to adrenaline. Several other syntheses also use adrenalone as starting material.

This is the bio-synthesis, so just look how remarkable the human body is. Its a chemical prodigy, in disguise  

1: Phenylalanine-hydroxylase,
2: Tyrosine-hydroxylase,
3: Aromatic amino-acid decarboxylase,
4: Dopamine--hydroxylase,
5: Phenylethanolamine- N-methyl- transferase
These five enzymes are involved in the pathway of the biosynthesis of adrenaline. The first enzyme is the iron containing phenylalanine-hydroxylase.
The second enzyme, tyrosine-hydroxylase, contains iron too, and catalyses the conversion of tyrosine to L--(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)- -alanine (dopa).
After decarboxylation of dopa to dopamine (aromatic amino-acid decarboxylase) the copper-containing enzyme dopamine- -hydroxylase converts dopamine to noradrenaline. The final enzyme noradrenaline-N-methyltransferase then methylates noradrenaline to adrenaline. The biosynthesis occurs in the adrenal medulla, ALL BY ITSELF!  
SO...who wants the bragging rights associated with synthesizing adrenaline clandestinely...?
Pyrocatechol is the first step anyways...