Synthesis of β-phenethylamine

[sakalak]

I know it's a legal substance, but it's quite literally impossible to find any source on the clearnet on how to synthesize this at home. How to synthesize β-phenethylamine/β-phenylethylamine/phenethylamine HCl at home? Thank you.

 

[Osmosis Vanderwaal]

Strange, I typed b-phenylethylamine Synthesis in Google and got 6 routes

Organic Syntheses Procedure

Synthesis of β-Phenethylamines via Ni/Photoredox Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Aliphatic Aziridines and Aryl Iodides - PMC

A photo-assisted Ni-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling between tosyl-protected alkyl aziridines and commercially available (hetero)aryl iodides is reported. This mild and modular method proceeds in the absence of stoichiometric heterogeneous ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CN103641725A - Preparation method of phenylethylamine - Google Patents

The invention belongs to the technical field of chemical synthesis, and particularly relates to a preparation method of phenylethylamine. The preparation method of phenylethylamine comprises the following steps: adding phenylacetamide and methylbenzene in a tetrahydrofuran solution of zinc...

patents.google.com

 

[sakalak]

Thank you, I've seen all of these. Except for the first one, they seemed impossible to do unless you have an actual lab with all the fancy chemicals-- I wouldn't be asking the question if I did.
Then comes the first paper you mentioned. While benzyl cyanide is not literally impossible to get; the reaction requires a high hydrogen-pressure, which again requires high profile equipment (I guess?).
I asked the question to see if there are easier ways, possible to do at home. Some of the amphetamine syntheses require minimal equipment and obtainable chemicals, I hoped that there's such a way for b-phenylethylamine as well.
So for example if you've ever synthesized it or seen a synthesis that meets the "criteria" that I just explained, I'd appreciate the help.
Googling the question was among my capabilities and attempts.
Thank you

 

[psy]

You can synthesize it quite easily. If you want a how to do it with only otc stuff here it is.
1. You can get benzaldehyde from some almond flavoring just check the label (you'll have to distill it) or you can get bitter almond oil (possibly no distillation required). Get some NaOH from drain opener, nitromethane from rc fuel (you will need to distill it) and HCl. Adjust for stoichiometry but follow this procedure: https://www.orgsyn.org/demo.aspx?prep=CV1P0413. I would recommend recrystallizing it. Now that you have the nitrostyrene you'll have to reduce it. The easiest way will be with mercury. If you can buy mercury directly do that. If not buy tilt switches or some other product that contains mercury. Get some nitric acid or make it. Use it to make mercury nitrate. There is some great sources online for this reaction. Now do a Hg/Al reduction on your nitrostyrene. There is plenty of examples of this reaction on the internet. Do your work up and just like that you are done!
2. Buy benzyl alcohol. I have seen it sold as a solvent at a few places. react it with HCl to get benzyl chloride. There is many videos of this reaction on youtube. Than you are going to make any cyanide salt you want. There is plenty of references on the internet on how to make cyanide. Just be careful! You are now going to react your cyanide with your benzyl chloride. Google kolbe nitrile synthesis for examples and for which solvents to use. Now you have benzyl nitrile! It can also be reduced with Al/Hg.

 

[Osmosis Vanderwaal]

Here's the easiest Synthesis of it. What'll you trade me for it? I do have this sitting here. I forget what I paid for it but less than $20

 

[sakalak]

Thank you. If I were in the US I'd love to buy this from you. I saw other ones on the internet too but my country probably won't allow the import. That's why I'm trying to synthesize it.

 

[Osmosis Vanderwaal]

I couldn't find a single thing to do with it besides synth some carfentonyl analog. If you know of any thing else, please tell us.

 

[sakalak]

I'm no expert but as far as I know there's not much you could do with this thing. And you've got 500 grams, which is quite a lot. If you haven't opened the package (figuring from the picture, you didn't), I would just sell it online. It's not illegal so if you put a price lower than the standard, you'll be good to go. Otherwise it's a nice and safe stimulant to consume if that's an option for you. Don't exceed 1 gram a day and 3 grams per week.

 

[Osmosis Vanderwaal]

Believe me, I did the research. Without an MAOI-B, it doesn't last long enough in vivo to do anything. MAOI-B's are a lot harder to come by tan A's. I'll eventually come up with something to do with it. Fent I guess. I saw today I can dimethylate it with acetone making dimethylphenethylamine Schaffer bas, imine, azo. Not sure what to call it but a 1,2 rearrangement could make it into methamphetamine

 

[sakalak]

@psy Wow, I didn't expect such a helpful comment tbh. Thanks a lot, I'll totally be doing that. I'll post my updates here if anyone needs it in the future as well.

 

[psy]

The absolute easiest way would just be a decarboxylation of phenylalanine. This can be done with a ketone catalyst and a high boiling point solvent. This would be a lot easier if your only goal is to make pea. I forgot this was possible when I wrote my last post.