Safrole

Safrole is a colorless or slightly yellow oily liquid. It is typically extracted from the root-bark or the fruit of camphor oil, and is found in small amounts in a wide variety of plants. The Octea cymbarum oil made of the Octea pretiosa,^[2] a plant growing in Brazil, and sassafras oil made of the Sassafras albidum,^[3] a plant growing in eastern North America, are the main natural sources for safrole. It has a characteristic "candy-shop" aroma.

Safrole was once widely used as a food additive in root beer, sassafras tea, and other common goods. However, the soap and perfumes by IFRA.

It is a precursor in the synthesis of the insecticide synergist piperonyl butoxide.

Use in ecstasy manufacture

Safrole is used as the main precursor for the clandestine manufacture of 1,4-benzoquinone) to oxidize safrole directly to the 3,4-methylenedioxy phenyl-2-propanone intermediate.

It is nearly impossible to obtain large quantities of safrole and/or sassafras oil without arousing the suspicion of law enforcement, as Safrole is currently a List I chemical. Moreover, safrole is listed as a Table I precursor under the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.^[4]

References

1. ^ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 8287.
2. ^ Hickey M. J. (1948). "Investigation of the Chemical Constitution of Brazilian Sassafras Oil". Journal of Organic Chemistry 13 (3): 443-446.
3. ^ Kamdem D. P., Gage, D. A. (1995). "Chemical Composition of Essential Oil from the Root Bark of Sassafras albidum". Journal of Organic Chemistry 61 (6): 574-575. doi:10.1055/s-2006-959379.
4. ^ International Narcotics Control Board