Ask Erowid

Ask a Question


Find an answer:

View By Category

Search Ask Erowid
Search Vaults


Enter a keyword in the search field above to look up a question or answer on a specific topic.
Off-Site Psychoactive Question Resources
  Ask Dr Shulgin

Resources at Erowid
  Plants & Drugs
  Freedom & Law
  Mind & Spirit
  Arts & Sciences
  Library / Bookstore
  What's New
  About Erowid
  .
Can Butyric acid be used as a replacement for GBL in GHB synthesis?
Q: Can Butyric acid be used as a replacement for GBL in the GHB synthesis?
A: No. The synthesis of GHB from GBL is a simple ring-opening of a lactone, yielding a hydroxy-butyric acid. Using GBL as the precursor is by far the easiest method. Attempting to use butyric acid in a typical GBL -> GHB synthesis will give you nothing but a sodium or potassium salt of butyric acid, which should have little to no activity.



In order to use butyric acid to make GHB, you would have to add a hydroxyl group to the end opposite the carboxylic acid (the COOH). While there are several ways this can be done, they are somewhat complex and require several additional steps.



aloha

psilo
Asked By : ABC Thriller
Answered By : psilo
Published Date : 7 / 19 / 2001
Last Edited Date : 7 / 19 / 2001
Question ID : 2759
Categories: [ Chemistry ] [ GHB ]


Ask Erowid v1.7 - Jul, 2005
[Plants & Drugs] [Mind & Spirit] [Freedom & Law] [Arts & Sciences] [Library] [Search] [About]
(content and html © the Vaults of Erowid. Please ask permission before publicly reproducing.)