3 ms·

Psilocybin may be an underrated chemical precursor. 4-substituted indoles are notoriously difficult to synthesize. Psilocin is a rare example of a natural one.

by scythe 7y ago

Psilocybin may be an underrated chemical precursor. 4-substituted indoles are notoriously difficult to synthesize. Psilocin is a rare example of a natural one. (LSD is another.) For example, a milliliter of 4-bromoindole costs a whopping $75: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/524336?lang=en&region=US https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/524336?... Presumably this technique could produce psilocybin for much less than $75 per milliliter.

derefr 7y ago
Are you sure that these precursors aren't just expensive because so many of the compounds that go into them, or which come from them, are controlled substances? There are a lot of bulk reactants that I'd like to buy for chemistry experiments, but can't (because they're controlled, because they can be used to make illegal things), so I have to make them myself from even earlier precursor chemicals; this adds (via labor costs) to the cost of making the final product. Presumably, even big producers like Sigma are in the same situation.
- colechristensen 7y ago
  If you're curious go search. Sigma sells cocaine, heroin, and LSD, for example, nevermind precursors. They won't sell them to you, but they will sell them to organizations with the correct permissions to buy them. Regulatory compliance might add to the cost, but for a company like Sigma I'd expect doing things in-house to lower costs not raise them.
isoprophlex 7y ago
Be careful thinking about potential cost of bringing a synthesis to market based on Sigma Aldrich catalog prices. SA is a supply house for research chemicals, prioritizing quantity of compounds offered and consistent, specified quality over price. The range of products they offer is insane, even considering the reactivity and instability of some of them. If your commercialize a compound, you source these starting materials (eg. Bromoindole) directly through manufacturers. You will be able to buy in bulk at 10-1000x lower prices, sometimes. Of course you need to do judicious quality controls yourself, but you likely have the scaling benefits to do.

by scythe 7y ago

derefr 7y ago

Are you sure that these precursors aren't just expensive because so many of the compounds that go into them, or which come from them, are controlled substances? There are a lot of bulk reactants that I'd like to buy for chemistry experiments, but can't (because they're controlled, because they can be used to make illegal things), so I have to make them myself from even earlier precursor chemicals; this adds (via labor costs) to the cost of making the final product. Presumably, even big producers like Sigma are in the same situation.

colechristensen 7y ago
If you're curious go search. Sigma sells cocaine, heroin, and LSD, for example, nevermind precursors. They won't sell them to you, but they will sell them to organizations with the correct permissions to buy them. Regulatory compliance might add to the cost, but for a company like Sigma I'd expect doing things in-house to lower costs not raise them.

isoprophlex 7y ago

Be careful thinking about potential cost of bringing a synthesis to market based on Sigma Aldrich catalog prices. SA is a supply house for research chemicals, prioritizing quantity of compounds offered and consistent, specified quality over price. The range of products they offer is insane, even considering the reactivity and instability of some of them. If your commercialize a compound, you source these starting materials (eg. Bromoindole) directly through manufacturers. You will be able to buy in bulk at 10-1000x lower prices, sometimes. Of course you need to do judicious quality controls yourself, but you likely have the scaling benefits to do.