hi, i got some more (nasty) quiestions for you guys about the synstesis of meth. it's strange becouse whenn i found 4 different explanations of the same reaction on the net wich leaves me with these quistions:

1) can PI3 react with ephedrine so the OH is reduced to I?

2) does HI first reduce ephedrine to ephedrine with the OH replaced with I and after the I-ephedrine reacts with HI again to creacte meth?

3) whenn you add red P to the iodine, PI3 is created. this reacts with water and you have HI and phrosorus acid, is this phrosporus acid H3PO3 or H3PO4

4) is the gas that is produced during the reaction HI?

Do some searches at rhodium.ws and you'll find all the explanations you'll need.

that's exactly the problem i get 10 different explanations about the same thing...

1-Yes. This is a minor pathway in the HI reduction in which P is present. PI3 (or any phosphorus halide) is great for halogenating any alcohol, and will work on pfed. In fact, PCl3 or PCl5 is used to halogenate pfed when doing a Pd/C reduction.

2-HI first gives H+ and I-. The H+ protonates the alcohol (OH) and gives OH2+, which the charge migrates to the carbon and the OH2 splits off as H2O. The positive carbon scoops up the negative iodine, and becomes iodoephedrine (OH replaced with I).

Then the HI reacts once more, this time the I from the iodoephedrine and the I from HI reacts and gives I2. The left over hydrogen saturates the carbon, and gives you meth.

3- 2P + 3I2----->2PI3

PI3 + 3H2O---->3HI + 1H3PO3

1H3PO3 + 1I2 + 1H2O----->1H3PO4 + 2HI

H3PO3=phosphorous acid H3PO4=Phosphoric acid

4-Yes.

[This message has been edited by madchemist (edited 01-13-2004).]

[This message has been edited by madchemist (edited 01-13-2004).]

jes, jes, jes finally sombody who gave an answer to my deaperate call for help

no, i'm not your mr. white (it's just an nick for the withe stuff you know what i mean....)