Phthalimidopropiophenone
Phthalimidopropiophenone is a chemical intermediate used in the synthesis of cathinone. It has been found to be sold on the illicit market as a controlled substance analogue, but little is currently known about its pharmacology or toxicology.[1]
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IUPAC name
2-(1-oxo-1-phenylpropan-2-yl)isoindole-1,3-dione | |
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3D model (JSmol) |
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ChemSpider | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.199.129 |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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Properties | |
C17H13NO3 | |
Molar mass | 279.295 g·mol−1 |
Density | 1.304 g/cm3 |
Melting point | 87 to 88 °C (189 to 190 °F; 360 to 361 K) |
Boiling point | 447.2 °C (837.0 °F; 720.3 K) |
Hazards | |
Flash point | 204.4 °C (399.9 °F; 477.5 K) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references |
Phthalimidopropiophenone is not an active stimulant, but is believed to be potentially capable of acting as a prodrug for cathinone when ingested, as similar N-substituted cathinone derivatives have been encountered by law enforcement, and were found to form cathinone in vivo by initial hydroxylation of the pyrrolidine ring followed by subsequent dehydrogenation to the corresponding lactam, then by double dealkylation of the pyrrolidine ring to form the primary amine.[2] It is unclear how rapidly or to what extent this metabolic pathway is followed in humans however, and the phthalimido substituted cathinones encountered may have been produced merely as a more stable form for storage than the relatively unstable primary amine cathinone derivatives.
References
- Camilleri A, Johnston MR, Brennan M, Davis S, Caldicott DG (April 2010). "Chemical analysis of four capsules containing the controlled substance analogues 4-methylmethcathinone, 2-fluoromethamphetamine, alpha-phthalimidopropiophenone and N-ethylcathinone". Forensic Science International. 197 (1–3): 59–66. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.12.048. PMID 20074881.
- Springer D, Fritschi G, Maurer HH (November 2003). "Metabolism of the new designer drug alpha-pyrrolidinopropiophenone (PPP) and the toxicological detection of PPP and 4'-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinopropiophenone (MPPP) studied in rat urine using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry". Journal of Chromatography. B, Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences. 796 (2): 253–66. doi:10.1016/j.jchromb.2003.07.008. PMID 14581066.