However, only one of these, l-cocaine, occurs naturally and has significant pharmacological activity. Since the cocaine molecule contains four stereocenters, 8 enantiomers are possible. The powdered form of cocaine is the hydrochloride salt that is snorted or injected.
#How is crack cocaine made step by step crack#
Crack is a low-purity freebase form that is smoked. The unionized freebase form is insoluble in water, but it can be ionized in an acidic solution to produce water-soluble salts.
Shortly after ingestion, cocaine is hydrolyzed by enzymes in the body into several major metabolites, including benzoylecgonine, ecgonine, and ecgonine methyl ester.Ĭocaine is a weak base that can exist either in freebase form or as salts of various acids, most commonly the hydrochloride salt. In addition to its low molecular weight, this structure allows the molecule to readily penetrate the blood-brain barrier. The cocaine molecule is amphiphilic, meaning it contains a hydrophobic region (the benzoyl group) and a hydrophilic region (the tertiary amine). Both of these are found in several poisonous nightshade species. Cocaine’s chemical structure resembles several other tropane compounds, including scopolamine and atropine. Structurally, they are nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds. Tropane alkaloids are produced as secondary metabolites in a multitude of plants. Its chemical name is benzoylmethylecgonine, which has a chemical formula of C 17H 21NO 4. The Cocaine Molecule & Chemical StructureĬocaine is a tropane alkaloid derived from the leaves of a few varieties of the Erythroxylum coca plant. It is distributed using elaborate drug trafficking networks, with over a third of it ending up on U.S. Colombia produces the majority of the world’s cocaine, with more than 951 metric tons produced in 2019. Today, cocaine is almost exclusively produced in South America within remote, rural laboratories. As the 20th century progressed, cocaine’s abuse potential became more clear, eventually leading to stricter federal regulations. Cocaine could be purchased over-the-counter in this fashion until 1916. Parke, Davis & Co., which was based in Detroit, mass-produced cocaine hydrochloride and sold the drug in a variety of forms, including powder, self-injection kits, and cigarettes. Its medical properties were more fully uncovered by the 1880s, leading to dramatic increases in cocaine production by pharmaceutical companies such as Merck. Niemann named the compound cocaine and described its anesthetic properties when applied to the tongue. Five years later, in 1860, Albert Niemann isolated crystalline cocaine using a refined purification process as part of his Ph.D. He named the compound “erythroxyline,” derived from the genus of the coca plant ( Erythroxylum). It was first extracted from coca leaves in 1855 by a German pharmaceutical chemist named Friedrich Gaedecke. The modern high-purity form of cocaine we are familiar with today wasn’t discovered until the mid-19th century. Coca leaves, either brewed as a tea or chewed, have been an integral South American cultural practice for centuries. Where was Cocaine First Manufactured?Ĭocaine is one of many alkaloids found in the South American coca plant.
This article will be an overview of the history and processes behind cocaine manufacturing. In general, it is made via solvent and acid-base extractions using a variety of hazardous chemicals, including diesel fuel, sulfuric acid, ammonia, and diethyl ether. Many procedural variations exist for its illicit manufacturing, depending on factors such as the cost and availability of starting materials. In several South American countries, especially Colombia, it is processed into a coca paste, then converted into a base, and finally, into crystalline cocaine hydrochloride. It is manufactured from the leaves of the coca plant, Erythroxylum coca, a tropical shrub that grows exclusively in northern and western South America. Cocaine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant.
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