I've been looking around, and (what do you know) I've got a couple more questions.
In the AlCl3 demethylization, a PTC is used apparently for the specific reason of allowing the AlCl3 to mix with the eugenol. Couldn't this be achieved by using a solvent that dissolves eugenol and AlCl3? Maybe an alcohol, or DMF, or something like that? Or would the AlCl3 go after the solvent? If this worked though, all SWIM would have to do is reflux in eugenol, AlCl3, and solvent, then extract and test to see if you got Catechol(that is unmethylated safrole, isn't it?).
Second, Where would one get Nordefrin? I was thinking that a very very bad person could just methylate it, then possibly run it through the sulfuric acid/metal chloride reaction that turns ephedrine to P2P, and maybe get MDP2P. Would that work? Or you could just run the methylated product throug the birch, HI/RP, etc. to get MDA. Comments?
Zorro