Gas Chromatographic and Mass Spectral Analysis of Methamphetamine Synthesized From Allylbenzene

The synthesis of methamphetamine from allylbenzene is investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Treatment of allylbenzene with HBr yields 1-phenyl-2-bromopropane as a major product. Smaller amounts of 1-phenyl-3-bromopropane, as well as 2,3-, 1,2-, and 1,3-dibromopropane, are also formed during the course of this reaction; both diastereomeric forms of 1,2-dibromopropane are detected in the product mixture. Animation of the crude bromination product with methylamine yields primarily methamphetamine and other amines characteristic of this synthetic method, including the methamphetamine isomer, N-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanamine.