Introduction: 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamines (MDAs), which were described as a new drug class “entactogens” a by Nichols [1], are being abused to enhance mutual understanding, communicativeness and empathy together with their hallucinogenic effects [1–3]. They are known as a group of designer drugs, and include 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine(MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine(MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) and N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine(MBDB) ( Fig. ). Of the MDAs, MDA, MDMA and MDEA are strictly controlled by laws b. These drugs are being usually sold in tablet forms in black markets. . | 3 4-Methylene-dioxyamphetamines by Munehiro Katagi and Hitoshi Tsuchihashi Introduction 3 4-Methylenedioxyamphetamines MDAs which were described as a new drug class entactogens a by Nichols 1 are being abused to enhance mutual understanding communicativeness and empathy together with their hallucinogenic effects 1-3 . They are known as a group of designer drugs and include 3 4-methylenedioxyamphetamine MDA 3 4-methyle-nedioxymethamphetamine MDMA 3 4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine MDEA and N-methyl-1- 3 4-methylenedioxyphenyl -2-butanamine MBDB Fig. . Of the MDAs MDA MDMA and MDEA are strictly controlled by laws b. These drugs are being usually sold in tablet forms in black markets. The tablets are often imprinted with various kinds of graphic designs and commercial logos including the 3-diamond Mitsubishi mark birds animals and other characters on their faces. Some GC MS and LC MS studies have revealed that they contain various amounts of MDAs in most cases ranging from 50 to 150 mg per tablet as the primary ingredient sometimes smaller amounts of amphetamines and or other pharmaceutical agents such as caffeine and ketamine 4 5 . O Figure 3 4-methylenedioxyamphetamine MDA 3 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine MDMA 3 4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine MDEA N-methyl-1- 3 4-methylenedioxyphenyl -2-butanamine MBDB N-methyl-1- 3 4-methylenedioxyphenyl -3-butanamine HMDMA Structures of MDA and its analogues. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005 230 3 4-Methylenedioxyamphetamines o Figure 3 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine MDMA 3 4-methylenedioxyamphetamine MDA 3 4-dihydroxymethannphetamine HHMA Glucuronides and or sulphates 3 4-dihydroxyamphetamine HHA 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine HMMA Glucuronides and or sulphates 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyamphetamine HMA Glucuronides and or sulphates Glucuronides and or sulphates Metabolic pathways for MDMA and MDA. MDMA which is well known by the street name of Ecstasy is now the most popular recreational drug in the
