Influence of base on nitro-aldol (Henry) reaction products for alternative clandestine pathways. Issue 6 (1st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andrighetto, Luke M.; Henderson, Luke C.; Pearson, James R.; Stevenson, Paul G.; Conlan, Xavier A.
• Is Part Of: Australian journal of forensic sciences. Volume 48:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 684
• Page End: 693
• Publication Date: 2016-11-01
• Subjects: base -- methamphetamine -- nitro-aldol -- P2P -- pseudoephedrine; Law -- Australia -- Periodicals; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; 363.2505
• DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2015.1112429
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-0618

Abstract

Abstract : Australian clandestine drug laboratories are constantly utilising alternative methods to produce methamphetamine, in part as restrictions are placed by Government on, for example, chemicals such as phenyl-2-propanone (P2P) (in the early 1980s), or on pseudoephedrine-containing pharmaceuticals, from the mid-2000s. This paper discusses the nitro-aldol reaction occurring between nitroethane and benzaldehyde, which can be utilised in a number of differing routes, in the presence of different bases. The resulting products, namely phenyl-2-nitropropene (P2P pathway) and 2-nitro-1-phenyl-1-propanol (ephedrine pathway) are directly dependant on which base is used; as such, the base may be used to provide an indication of a possible manufacture pathway of methamphetamine at a clandestine laboratory.