An Investigation Into the Yields of 3,4‐Methylenedioxyphenyl‐2‐propanone (MDP2P) From Glycidate Pre‐Precursors
- 1School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences University of Technology Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia
- 2Centre for Forensic Science, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences University of Technology Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia
Abstract
The use of pre‐precursors to illicitly manufacture 3,4‐methylenedioxyphenyl‐2‐propanone (MDP2P) for the synthesis of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) has emerged in clandestine laboratories. Methyl 3‐(3,4‐methylenedioxyphenyl)‐2‐methyl glycidate (MMDMG) and ethyl 3‐(3,4‐methylenedioxyphenyl)‐2‐methyl glycidate (EMDMG) have recently been seized in clandestine laboratories in New South Wales, Australia. These glycidate esters can be converted to MDP2P via acid or base hydrolysis. This study investigated factors influencing MDP2P yield from MMDMG and EMDMG through both pathways. For acid hydrolysis, hydrochloric, sulphuric, phosphoric and acetic acids were examined at different reaction times and temperatures. Reactions at 100°C produced higher MDP2P yields than those at room temperature, and 18 h was sufficient for complete conversion. Hydrochloric and sulphuric acids gave the highest yields after 18 h at 100°C (79% and 78%, respectively), phosphoric acid gave moderate conversion (~30%), and acetic acid produced poor yields (< 10%). The conversion proceeded via two previously unreported diol‐ester intermediates. Base hydrolysis involved heating glycidate esters with sodium hydroxide in alcohol, forming sodium piperonyl methyl ketone (PMK) glycidate, followed by reaction with aqueous acid. Heating MMDMG in methanol or EMDMG in ethanol for 5 h produced sodium PMK glycidate. This intermediate was unstable in acidic aqueous solution and rapidly converted to MDP2P at room temperature. Yields obtained using hydrochloric, sulphuric and phosphoric acids (73%, 71% and 69%, respectively) were comparable to acid hydrolysis, whereas acetic acid produced lower yields (25%). This work may assist law enforcement agencies to predict illicit drug yields from pre‐precursors and support investigations into emerging illicit drug synthesis trends.
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BibTeX
@article{mercieca2026investigation,
title = {{An Investigation Into the Yields of 3,4‐Methylenedioxyphenyl‐2‐propanone (MDP2P) From Glycidate Pre‐Precursors}},
author = {Alexandra L. Mercieca and Ella S. Schuett and Andrew M. McDonagh and Shanlin Fu and Morgan Alonzo},
journal = {Drug Testing and Analysis},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1002/dta.70143},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.70143},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - An Investigation Into the Yields of 3,4‐Methylenedioxyphenyl‐2‐propanone (MDP2P) From Glycidate Pre‐Precursors
AU - Alexandra L. Mercieca
AU - Ella S. Schuett
AU - Andrew M. McDonagh
AU - Shanlin Fu
AU - Morgan Alonzo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/07
JO - Drug Testing and Analysis
DO - 10.1002/dta.70143
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.70143
AB - The use of pre‐precursors to illicitly manufacture 3,4‐methylenedioxyphenyl‐2‐propanone (MDP2P) for the synthesis of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) has emerged in clandestine laboratories. Methyl 3‐(3,4‐methylenedioxyphenyl)‐2‐methyl glycidate (MMDMG) and ethyl 3‐(3,4‐methylenedioxyphenyl)‐2‐methyl glycidate (EMDMG) have recently been seized in clandestine laboratories in New South Wales, Australia. These glycidate esters can be converted to MDP2P via acid or base hydrolysis. This study investigated factors influencing MDP2P yield from MMDMG and EMDMG through both pathways. For acid hydrolysis, hydrochloric, sulphuric, phosphoric and acetic acids were examined at different reaction times and temperatures. Reactions at 100°C produced higher MDP2P yields than those at room temperature, and 18 h was sufficient for complete conversion. Hydrochloric and sulphuric acids gave the highest yields after 18 h at 100°C (79% and 78%, respectively), phosphoric acid gave moderate conversion (~30%), and acetic acid produced poor yields (< 10%). The conversion proceeded via two previously unreported diol‐ester intermediates. Base hydrolysis involved heating glycidate esters with sodium hydroxide in alcohol, forming sodium piperonyl methyl ketone (PMK) glycidate, followed by reaction with aqueous acid. Heating MMDMG in methanol or EMDMG in ethanol for 5 h produced sodium PMK glycidate. This intermediate was unstable in acidic aqueous solution and rapidly converted to MDP2P at room temperature. Yields obtained using hydrochloric, sulphuric and phosphoric acids (73%, 71% and 69%, respectively) were comparable to acid hydrolysis, whereas acetic acid produced lower yields (25%). This work may assist law enforcement agencies to predict illicit drug yields from pre‐precursors and support investigations into emerging illicit drug synthesis trends.
SN - 1942-7603
SN - 1942-7611
ER -