SYNTHESIS: A stirred solution of 9.0 g 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanone (see the recipe for J for its preparation) in 150 mL MeOH was treated with 9.0 g ethylamine hydrochloride, 4.0 g anhydrous NaOAc, and 3.0 g sodium cyanoborohydride. The pH was maintained between 6 and 7 by the periodic addition of HCl. After the base formation had stabilized, there was added an additional 9.0 g ethylamine hydrochloride, 9.0 g NaOAc and 2.0 g sodium cyanoborohydride. With continuous stirring, there was HCl added over the course of 1 h until the final pH was approximately 2. The reaction mixture was poured into 700 mL dilute NaOH, and extracted with 3x75 mL CH2Cl2. These extracts were pooled, and back-extracted with dilute H2SO4. This was washed with 2x50 mL CH2Cl2, then made basic with dilute NaOH and extracted with 2x75 mL CH2Cl2. Removal of the solvent under vacuum gave a 0.81 g residue which was dissolved in 10 mL IPA. Neutralization with concntrated HCl formed white crystals spontaneously. These were diluted with Et2O, filtered, Et2O washed and air dried to provide 0.85 g 2-ethylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxy-phenyl)butane hydrochloride (ETHYL-J), with mp of 176-177 °C. Anal. (C13H20ClNO2) C,H. The neutral fraction that remained in the organic phase following the dilute sulfuric acid extraction, was recovered by removal of the solvent under vacuum. There was obtained about 5 g of an amber liquid that was largely 2-hydroxy-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butane.
DOSAGE: greater than 90 mg.
DURATION: probably short.
QUALITATIVE COMMENTS: (with 65 mg) Perhaps aware at 20 minutes. Definitely aware at 45 minutes. Diffusing to nothing at 3-4 hours.
(with 90 mg) I am somewhere between 1 and +. And everything became lost in the evening with a couple of glasses of wine and talk that went on to 3 AM.
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: And nothing higher has ever been looked at. If the analogy with the amphetamine counterparts (J with MDA, METHYL-J with MDMA, and this, with MDE) were to hold up (a drop of about a third in potency with the lengthening of the chain by a carbon atom), one might guess that this compound would be an interesting intoxicant, but probably not until you got up into the area at or above a 200 milligram dose. And that is a lot of chemical for the body to have to handle. Some day, maybe.