Advanced indole storage techniques

[Coolio]

I'm having the hardest time finding anything about storage techniques for drugs on Google. Does anybody have any tips or suggestions on how to store oxygen/heat/light sensitive chemicals outside of a well-equipped laboratory?

A silica gel desiccant packet doesn't seem like nearly enough, they can only reduce humidity to 40%. Is it possible to seal a bottle full of 98% nitrogen or carbon dioxide or argon or something, with affordable technology? Is there any way to properly vacuum pack small amounts of powdery chemicals, without losing any or making a mess?

 

[haribo1]

Dry nitrogen is the simplist. You can buy equipement for keeping wine fresh after opening the bottle such as this:

http://www.avalonwine.com/Keeping-wine-fresh-after-opening.php

I don't expect 100% nitrogen, but if you get rid of, say, 95% and dessicate then it should be good to go. When deprotecting melatonin, the paper required metabisulfite (if I remember correctly) to stop the indole ring from oxidising, so maybe thats a clue?

 

[fastandbulbous]

Metabisulphite (you're British, use our spelling!! ) is used as an antioxidant and sterilizing agent for winemaking - it's basically solid sulphur dioxide which wants desparately to be oxidized...

 

[tobala]

I don't expect 100% nitrogen, but if you get rid of, say, 95% and dessicate then it should be good to go. When deprotecting melatonin, the paper required metabisulfite (if I remember correctly) to stop the indole ring from oxidising, so maybe thats a clue?

Combine your method with some of the common O2-absorbing packets on the market and you could approach 100% (though 100% doesn't exist in the world of chemistry).

 

[egor]

You could always contact someone like Sigma-aldrich (not a supplier w/o a dea liscence) and ask what they do to prevent the oxidation of indoles.

 

[Crimethink]

If it's going to take you a while to find nitrogen and you have very sensitive tryptamines then you can use butane. I wouldn't recommend it for KG quantities in containers prone to static discharge. Obviously don't be near an open flame when filling & opening...it isn't any riskier than filling a ciggarette lighter. I've stored some tryptamines that should have turned to sludge years ago as well as historical documents successfully.

As above combine with Silica (dessicant) & activated carbon to absorb any remaining O2 trapped in the powder.