title: Methyl 3-[3',4'-(methylenedioxy)phenyl]-2-methyl glycidate: an ecstasy precursor seized in Sydney, Australia.
abstract: Five 44 gallon drums labeled as glycidyl methacrylate were seized by the Australian Customs Service and the Australian Federal Police at Port Botany, Sydney, Australia, in December 2004. Each drum contained a white, semisolid substance that was initially suspected to be 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA). Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) analysis demonstrated that the material was neither glycidyl methacrylate nor MDMA. Because intelligence sources employed by federal agents indicated that this material was in some way connected to MDMA production, suspicion fell on the various MDMA precursor chemicals. Using a number of techniques including proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H NMR), carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((13)C NMR), GC/MS, infrared spectroscopy, and total synthesis, the unknown substance was eventually identified as methyl 3-[3',4'(methylenedioxy)phenyl]-2-methyl glycidate. The substance was also subjected to a published hydrolysis and decarboxylation procedure and gave a high yield of the MDMA precursor chemical, 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone, thereby establishing this material as a "precursor to a precursor."
authors.affiliation: National Measurement Institute, Australian Forensic Drug Laboratory, 1 Suakin St., Pymble, Sydney, NSW 2073, Australia. Michael.collins@measurement.gov.ao
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heagney
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cordaro
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Odgers
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarrant
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D044707:Forensic Sciences / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine