Cathinone (
β-
ketoamphetamine) is a
monoamine alkaloid
found in the
shrub Catha edulis (
Khat)
and is chemically similar to
ephedrine,
cathine and other
amphetamines. Amphetamine induces the release
of
dopamine from striatal preparations that
are prelabelled either with dopamine or its precursors, and it has
been shown that cathinone also does this. It is probably the main
contributor to the
stimulant effect of
Catha edulis. Cathinone differs from many other
amphetamines in that it has a
ketone functional group. Other amphetamines that
share this structure include the
antidepressant bupropion and the stimulant
methcathinone, among others.
Internationally, cathinone is a
Schedule
I drug under the
Convention on Psychotropic
Substances. Circa 1993, the
DEA added cathinone to the
Controlled Substances
Act's Schedule I in order to fulfill the requirements of
international law.
The sale
of khat is legal in Israel
(although
synthetic cathinone is not), and also in Oman
, in Yemen
, in United Kingdom
and in the Horn of
Africa.
Chemistry
Cathinone is structurally related to
methcathinone, much like how
amphetamine is related to
methamphetamine. Cathinone differs from
amphetamine by possessing a
ketone oxygen atom (C=O) on the
β (beta) position
of the side chain. The corresponding alcohol compound
cathine is a less powerful stimulant. The
biophysiological conversion from cathinone to
cathine is to blame for the depotentiation of
khat leaves over time. Fresh leaves have a
greater ratio of cathinone to cathine than dried ones, therefore
having more psychoactive effects.
Cathinone can be extracted from
Catha
edulis, or synthesized from
α-
bromopropiophenone
(which is easily made from
propiophenone).
References
- List of psychotropic substances under international
control
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