C16H14N2O

C16H14N2O or Methaqualone is a hypnotic sedative. also called brand names Quaalude and Sopor among others, which contained 300 mg of methaqualone, and sold as a combination drug under the brand name Mandrax, which contained 250 mg methaqualone and 25 mg diphenhydramine within the same tablet.

The sedative–hypnotic activity of methaqualone was recognized was patented and use for the treatment of insomnia, and as a sedative and muscle relaxant.

Synthesis And Precursors

The most common route of synthesis is by the Leuckart method. This uses (P2P, BMK, phenylacetone) and reagents such as formic acid, ammonium formate or formamide to yield a racemic mixture of the R- and S-enantiomers. A much less common, but stereoselective, method is by reduction of the appropriate diastereoisomers of norephedrine or norpseudoephedrine.

C16H14N2O Mode of use

Amphetamine may be ingested, snorted and, less commonly, injected. Unlike the hydrochloride salt of methamphetamine, amphetamine sulfate is insufficiently volatile to be smoked. When ingested, a dose may vary from several tens to several hundreds of milligrams depending on the purity.

Methaqualone Other names

The term amfetamine (the International Non-Proprietary Name: INN) refers to a racemic mixture of the two enantiomers. Amfetamine is also the name required by Directives 65/65/EEC and 92/27/EEC for the labelling of medicinal products within the EU. Dexamfetamine is the INN for the (S)–α-methylbenzeneethanamine enantiomer also known as (+)-α-methylphenethylamine. Levamfetamine is the (R)-α-methylbenzeneethanamine enantiomer also known as (–)-α-methylphenethylamine. Other commonly used chemical names include 1-phenyl-2-aminopropane and phenyliospropylamine. Amphetamine is sometimes included with methamphetamine and other less common substances (e.g. benzphetamine) under the generic heading of ‘amphetamines’. Hundreds of other synonyms and proprietary names exist. ‘Street’ terms include speed, base and whizz.