SWIM proposes a possible new method to GHB using simple reactions and OTC chemicals. The starting precursor, is monosodium glutamate, more commonly known as MSG, easily available in any grocery store. Sodium hypochlorite is available as bleach, and aluminum isopropoxide can be made from mercury, aluminum, and isopropanol, all available OTC.
This is a very preliminary guide; nothing beyond the basic reactions are given. SWIM wants to know if there is anything that will cause the following to not work properly.
Note that SWIM leaves the sodium salt as-is. This is because he figures that the Meerwein et al. Reduction would deprotonate the acid anyway due to the strongly basic conditions, so there is no reason to acidify the sodium salt of the resulting aldehyde-acid created through the Strecker degradation. SWIM does not know if the sodium salt will dissolve satisfactorily in the isopropanol for the Meerwein reduction, but figures that it probably dissolves to some extent.
Any thoughts on this or any other aspects of this proposal would be greatly appreciated.
Step #1: Monosodium glutamate is converted into an aldehyde with one fewer carbon atom using sodium hypochlorite (Strecker Degradation)
NaOOC-(CH2)2CH(NH2)COOH + NaOCl --------> NaOOC-(CH2)2CHO
Step #2: The resulting aldehyde is reduced to GHB using aluminum isopropoxide dissolved in isopropanol (Meerwein-Pondorf-Verley reduction)
NaOOC-(CH2)2CHO + CH3CHCH3 ---(Al[OCH3CHCH3]3)----> NaOOC-(CH2)3OH
If anyone can point out errors, oversights, or improvements, that would be greatly appreciated.