So, ritalin (and focalin, I suppose) are generally seen as inferior stims when compared to amp and its analogues. My preliminary reading says that ethylphenidate has high affinity for dopamine reuptake transporters. So strong that even in minimal quantities naturally produced by coadministration of alcohol and methylphenidate, it has noticeable activity. My hope here, then, is that it is so strong as to be cost effective to convert the methyl ester--> ethyl ester.

The Problems: As far as I have googled, there's not a whole lot of data about ethylphenidate by itself. So, dosage would have to be pioneered. I also don't know is there's any easy/cheap/OTC to go from methyl -->ethyl.

Finally, I did some quick googling on other phenidate analogues, but to no avail. Just figured I'd throw it out there.

It strikes me that refluxing in ethanol with a touch of base would probably do the trick...

If you want to get decent yields, you might have to refine the method, and if you plan on a bioassay of any sort, you need to look into purfication methods...

It strikes me that refluxing in ethanol with a touch of base would probably do the trick...

If you want to get decent yields, you might have to refine the method, and if you plan on a bioassay of any sort, you need to look into purification methods...

That easy? Neat. I'm still in the process of reading up on ester-switching. My virtual textbook of organic chemistry didn't cover that one. How indecent would the yields be? Also, for a most ghetto-fide bioassay, would this work (IE, no toxic byproducts that couldn't be A/B'd out)?

EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transesterification Wow. I guess it really is that easy. The power of google. But, yea, any idea on yields/decomp/impurities?

That easy? Neat. I'm still in the process of reading up on ester-switching. My virtual textbook of organic chemistry didn't cover that one. How indecent would the yields be? Also, for a most ghetto-fide bioassay, would this work (IE, no toxic byproducts that couldn't be A/B'd out)?

EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transesterification Wow. I guess it really is that easy. The power of google. But, yea, any idea on yields/decomp/impurities?


Dunno bout the yield really, guess it might be fine given that you will have a vast excess of ethanol. Assuming no surprising side reactions, your products should be only the ethyl ester and methanol, possibly some (or more) residual starting material. I'd be tempted by distillation or chromatography for purification...

Dunno bout the yield really, guess it might be fine given that you will have a vast excess of ethanol. Assuming no surprising side reactions, your products should be only the ethyl ester and methanol, possibly some (or more) residual starting material. I'd be tempted by distillation or chromatography for purification...

Few procedural questions:
What Molarity (rough guesstimation) of NaOH in ethanol would be appropriate? Would an overwhelming excess of ethanol be ok (IE 50mlEtOH/50mgMePhdt)? Is methanol the only (expected) negative by-product of the reaction?

EDIT: Oh, just remembered, the most common source of methylphenidate would be pills (for the home chemist anyway...). Would an A/B prior to reaction be good enough to get rid of a majority of the gakk? The main concern I have with the "inactive ingredients" is that they'd react and make nasty (death causing) by-products.

Few procedural questions:
What Molarity (rough guesstimation) of NaOH in ethanol would be appropriate? Would an overwhelming excess of ethanol be ok (IE 50mlEtOH/50mgMePhdt)? Is methanol the only (expected) negative by-product of the reaction?

An vast excess of ethanol is desired, to drive the equilibirum over to the right. If you were to use only one equivalent say, then you would expect the reaction not to go to completion. Yeah, if you think about the mechanism (which may not be precisely what you think in the finer points, check Clayden if you're interested), methanol shuold be the only by-product. I would be tempted to avoid using hydroxide as base, because you may end up just hydrolysing the ester to give you the acid. Though, if you used acid catalysis you might circumvent this problem and furnish the ester anyway.

EDIT: Oh, just remembered, the most common source of methylphenidate would be pills (for the home chemist anyway...). Would an A/B prior to reaction be good enough to get rid of a majority of the gakk? The main concern I have with the "inactive ingredients" is that they'd react and make nasty (death causing) by-products.


No idea, depends what's in there...

Perhaps just dissolving up in acetone and filtering will do the trick? You'll have to check it out.

An vast excess of ethanol is desired, to drive the equilibirum over to the right. If you were to use only one equivalent say, then you would expect the reaction not to go to completion. Yeah, if you think about the mechanism (which may not be precisely what you think in the finer points, check Clayden if you're interested), methanol shuold be the only by-product. I would be tempted to avoid using hydroxide as base, because you may end up just hydrolysing the ester to give you the acid. Though, if you used acid catalysis you might circumvent this problem and furnish the ester anyway.

No idea, depends what's in there...

Perhaps just dissolving up in acetone and filtering will do the trick? You'll have to check it out.

You, sir, have been of supreme assistance to "someone" who might conduct such an experiment. I'll make sure to post back if I hear of any results from such a person.

-Hydroponichronic