SYNTHESIS: To a well stirred solution of 1.64 g of 1-(N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino)-1,1-dimethyl-2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)ethane (see under MDPH for its preparation) in 10 mL anhydrous THF there was added a suspension of 0.38 g LAH in 25 mL THF. All was held at reflux for 24 h, the excess hydride was destroyed by the addition of 1.5 mL H2O, and sufficient aqueous NaOH was added to make the reaction mixture basic and flocculant enough to be filterable. The inorganic solids were removed by filtration and, following washing with THF, the combined filtrate and washings were stripped of organic solvent under vacuum. The residue was dissolved in 100 mL Et2O and washed with 2x50 mL saturated aqueous NaHCO3. After drying the organic phase with anhydrous MgSO4, the solvent was removed under vacuum to give a yellow oil. This was dissolved in 50 mL absolute EtOH and neutralized with concentrated HCl. Removal of the solvent under vacuum yielded an off-white solid that was recrystallized from an EtOH/EtOAc mixture to provide 0.84 g of a,a,N-trimethyl-3,4-methylenedioxyphenethylamine hydrochloride (MDMP) with a mp of 206-208 °C. The NMR spectrum showed the a,a-dimethyl pair as a singlet at 1.38 ppm. Anal. (C12H18ClNO2) C,H,N.
DOSAGE: above 110 mg.
DURATION: perhaps 6 hours.
QUALITATIVE COMMENTS: (with 60 mg) There was a faint, dull alerting at just over a half hour. The time sense was out of order, and an absence of visuals but a generalized attentiveness to my surroundings was suggestive of MDMA. Nothing remained at the six hour point.
(with 110 mg) There was a light-headedness, and a complete absence of libido. Nothing in any way psychedelic, but there are hints of discomfort (jaw tension) that will bear close watching at higher dosages. It might evolve at higher levels into something like MDMA.
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: This is one of several candidates for clinical use as a substitute for MDMA, but there will have to be a much broader study of its qualitative action in man. It is clearly not psychedelic at these modest levels, and in in vitro animal studies it was apparently inactive as a serotonin releaser. The warped logic for looking at phentermine analogs was discussed in the comments that concerned MDPH. The initials used here have been chosen with care. MDM should not be used as it has found some currency as an abbreviation for MDMA (Methylene-Dioxy-Methamphetamine). MDMP fits neatly with Methylene-Dioxy-Me-Phentermine.