Methylone

[Emhillo]

Hi guys,
I am hoping that somebody can help me. I am looking for advice as to why methylone isn't considered an amphetamine based compound and any documentation (preferably official sources) relating to this. This is for an appeal in court regarding a prison sentence so is vital that the information is correct. I know this forum is a fountain of information so would really appreciate help and guidance from people more experienced than myself.
Thank you in advance!

 

[Deleted member 290563]

I would say that methylone IS amphetamine based. it is more specifically a cathinone, The amphetamine molecule's skeleton is contained in its entirety within the methylone molecule, there are just additional substitutions .

read the first sentance of methylone's article on wiki. it says its an amphetamine

The pharmacological activity of methylone is also also super similar to that of amphetamine(s). The bind to many of the same receptors in the brain and cause the same sorts of activity

 

[Mazzab]

I stand corrected. Thanks Lucid

 

[Dresden]

Amphetamines and cathinones differ by a single benzylic keto [Ar-(C=O)-R] group. Cathinones have it, while amphetamines have a bezylic methylene [Ar-CH2-R] atomic configuration. Amphetamine stands for Alpha-MethylPHenylEThylAMINE, hence the word, "amphetamine." Cathinones, OTOH, are alpha-methylphenylethanoneamines aka benzylic-oxo-amphetamines. Cathinones don't usually last nearly as long (about 1 to 2 hours) as their corresponding amphetamines (which can last 4 to 12 hours) do because that keto group is easily reduced metabolically to a benzylic alcohol [Ar-CH(OH)-R], effectively converting the cathinone into an ephedrine/PPA like (low psychoactivity) compound.

 

[MidniteMarc]

Dresden is right,they ARE different. But if its for a court appeal,no jury/judge is going to care about the molecular differences...they will go to Wiki and draw their conclusions from there. So Lucid's answer is actually more valid. Plus, its your state scheduling for a drug that dictates punishment, no matter how much you debate it.