From: [s c hwarr 7582] at [cobra.uni.edu]
Newsgroups: alt.drugs
Subject: Clearing up confusion-Chemistry
Date: 11 May 94 12:18:20 -0500



Well folks...there's been quite a bit of talk about the "chemistry" of
creating/synthesizing/purifying certain compounds...and nobody's taken a whack
at trying to explain it.  I guess I'll try.  (yeah...I'm one of those "bunsen
burner" freaks mentioned (=...)

Whew....where to start....I guess I'll start by clearing up some of the
confusion created in the SOLVENTS post.

POLAR
        A liquid is polar if it dissolves other "polar" stuff.  In the most
"gee-whizzy" sense, this is the definition....but it too, is unsatisfactory.
Take salt for example....(NaCl).  This is a polar compound, because of the
crystal lattice with a net dipole.  (HUH?)  ((not important))  This means,
however, that another polar liquid can dissolve salt....i.e. water.  The old
adage taught in every ChemI class comes to mind...."Like dissolves like."
        For those of you who I have already lost because of the "boredom" of 
my description, I offer the following example:

Dimethyl-Triptamine is essentially polar (not really, but close enough).  To
cut "trip", the most effective way is to use Diethyl-ether  (street-named
"ether") as a solvent.  This works, because the ether is relatively inert
(doesn't react) with the "trip" chemically....only physically.

LIPIDS
        Lipids are "fats" basically.  Like the saturated fat you cut off your
meat before cooking. They metabolize biologically into "waste".  Chemically,
any lipids can be metabolized with meta-ChloroPeroxybenzoic acid 
(HUH?)....better known as m-CPBA.  This acid is a mimic for biological
oxidations....no further need to test out compounds on "human" hosts.  :/
As far as just where they fit in the conversation, I don't know.

I can't off hand remember the other confusing things.  I'd be willing, however,
to work in conjunction with some of you to build a FAQ/"handbook" of syntheses.
Lemme know whatcha think.


Richard

************************************************************************
*** "Was it worth giving your life ***     Richard J. Schwartz II    ***
***  to become the person you now  ***     [s c hwarr 7582] at [cobra.uni.edu] ***
***  are?" ---Richard S. Bach      ***     "My opinions...ahh hell,  ***
***                 "One"          ***      are my opinions."        ***
***                                ***     Chem. Dept., UNI          ***
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