SYNTHESIS: A solution of 10.5 g propargylamine hydrochloride in 40 mL MeOH was treated with 2.0 g 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylacetone (see under MDMA for its preparation) followed by 0.55 g sodium cyanoborohydride. Concentrated HCl was added as needed, to keep the pH constant at about 6. The reaction seemed to progress very slowly. After about five days, the reaction mixture was added to 400 of H2O, acidified with HCl, and extracted with 3x100 mL CH2Cl2. The aqueous phase was made basic with 25% NaOH, and extracted with 3x100 mL CH2Cl2. Evaporation of the solvent from these extracts yielded 1.6 g of a clear amber, strong smelling oil which, on distillation at 105-110 °C at 0.2 mm/Hg, yielded 1.0 g of an almost colorless oil. This was dissolved in 20 mL IPA, neutralized with about 10 drops of concentrated HCl, and the spontaneously formed crystals were diluted with 50 mL anhydrous Et2O. After filtration, Et2O washing and air drying, there was obtained 1.1 g white crystals of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-propargylamphetamine hydrochloride (MDPL) with a mp of 189-190 °C. Anal. (C13H16ClNO2) N.
DOSAGE: greater than 150 mg.
DURATION: unknown.
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: There is a continuing uncertainty about the name for the three-carbon radical that contains a triple bond. The hydrocarbon is propyne, although it has been referred to as methylacetylene in the older literature. The adjective, going from the triple bond out to the point of attachment, is called propargyl, as in propargyl chloride. When the adjective must be built on the parent hydrocarbon, the double bond is on the outside and one reads away from it, as in 2-propynyl something. However, when the hydrocarbon is essentially the entire structure, then things get named going towards the triple bond, as in 3-chloro-1-propyne. Wait. I'm not done yet! When the actual hydrocarbon name becomes distorted into the derivative, then the triple bond is again at the high end of the numbering scheme. Propynol is 2-propyn-1-ol, which is, of course, the same as 3-hydroxypropyne, or propargyl alcohol. The code MDPL takes the first and last letter of the two of them, both propargyl and propynyl.