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#5 ALEPH-4
2,5-DIMETHOXY-4-(i)-PROPYLTHIOAMPHETAMINE
SYNTHESIS: A
solution of 2.0 g
2,5-dimethoxy-4-((i)-propylthio)benzaldehyde (see under
2C-T-4 for its
synthesis) in 12 mL
nitroethane was treated with 0.4 g
anhydrous
ammonium acetate and heated on the steam bath for 12 h, then allowed
to stir for another 12 h at room tem
perature. The excess
solvent/reagent was removed under vacuum leaving a residue as a heavy
deep orange two-
phase oily mass. This was brought into one phase with
2 mL MeOH and then, with continued stirring, everything spontaneously
crystallized. This product was removed by filtration and, after
washing sparingly with cold MeOH and air drying, yielded 2.0 g of
1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-(i)-propylthiophenyl)-2-nitropropene as orange
crystals with a mp of 96-98 °C. After recrystallization from 15 mL
boiling 95%
EtOH, filtering and air drying to constant weight, there
was obtained 1.6 g of orange
crystals with a mp of 99-100 °C.
A suspension of 1.0 g LAH in 100 mL warm THF was stirred under a N2
atmosphere and heated to a gentle reflux. To this there was added,
dropwise, a
solution of 1.2 g
1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-(i)-propylthiophenyl)-2-nitropropene in 20 mL
anhydrous THF. This mixture was held at reflux for 1 day, then
stirred at room tem
perature for 2 days. There was then added, slowly
and with caution, 1 mL of H2O, followed by 1 mL of 15%
NaOH, and
finally by another 3 mL of H2O. Stirring was continued until the
reaction mixture became white and granular, then all solids were
removed by filtration and the filter cake was washed with additional
THF. The filtrate and washings were combined, and the
solvent removed
under vacuum to give 1.1 g of residue which was an almost white oil.
This was
dissolved in 6 mL IPA, neutralized with concentrated HCl (10
drops were required) and then diluted with 200 mL
anhydrous Et2O. The
resulting slightly turbid
solution was clarified by filtration through
a sintered glass filter, and the clear and slightly yellow filtrate
was allowed to stand. A fine white
crystalline product slowly
separated over the next few h. This product,
2,5-dimethoxy-4-(i)-propylthioamphetamine hydrochloride (ALEPH-4) was
removed by filtration, and after washing with
Et2O and air drying,
weighed 0.5 g and had a mp of 146-147 °C, with prior sintering at 144
°C.
DOSAGE: 7 - 12 mg.
DURATION: 12 - 20 h
QUALITATIVE COMMENTS: (with 7 mg) Things started off going downhill,
initially negative with tension and
depression, but as the momentum
developed, so did the positive effect. My discomfort continued to
develop, but I was struck by the visual beauty of the trees and the
small stream that flowed off the mountain. My experience continued to
grow, simultaneously, in both the negative and the positive direction.
Physically I was uncomfortable and found my breathing difficult, but I
acknowledged a rapture in the very act of breathing. All moved over
to the plus side with time, and the evening was gorgeous. I have
never seen the sky so beautiful. The only flaw was when I choked on
some lemonade and it seemed to me I almost drowned. I have been
extremely conscious of eating, drinking and swallowing ever since. I
barely slept the whole night and awoke extremely tired. I felt that
the experience continued for many days, and I feel that it is one of
the most profound and deep learning experiences I have had. I will
try it again, but will block out more time for it.
(with 8 mg) There was without question a plus two, but none of the
edges of unreality that are part of LSD. The sounds that are just
outside of my hearing are intriguing, and distract me from the
eyes-closed imagery that is just barely possible with music while
lying down. But, going outside, there were no obvious sources of the
sounds that I heard. Could I drive? I suspect so. I took a shower
and did just that--I drove to San Francisco without incident, and
walked amongst the many strange faces on the downtown streets.
(with 12 mg) The experience was very intense but completely under
control except for a twenty minute period right in the middle of it.
I had to get away from everything, from everyone. There was a sense
of being surrounded and moved in upon that was suffocating. I was
weighed down with everything--physical,
psychic, emotional. My
clothes had to come off, my hair had to be released, my shoes went, I
needed to move away from where I was, to somewhere else, to some new
place, any new place, with the hope that my other old place wouldn't
follow me. Pretty soon I found I was myself, I could breathe again,
and I was OK. Rather sheepishly, I dressed and rejoined the group.
The rest of the day was spectacular, but those few minutes were scary.
What if I couldn't have escaped?
EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY: Again, there are hints and suggestions of
complexities. These, and several other reports, suggest some sensory
confusion, and interpretive aspects that are to some extent
threatening. There is an underlying suggestion of body toxicity. I
know of no experiment that exceeded 12 milligrams and I would not be
able to predict what might come forth at higher dosages. I personally
choose not to try them.
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