MAPS: Marquis test may be not reliable enough

["Perf. Fungi E." <pfe@xxxxxxxxxx>]

This morning I woke up with the idea that the Marquis-test for ecstasy 
tablets may be a bit too simple to fool. If I am right the addition 
of a small amount of phenylalanine to the carrier of each tablet 
would give a positive reaction. Crystal l-phenylalanine is cheap (half 
a kilo costs some $250). Since it is a common non-psychoactive amino 
acid and has many uses (for instance in plant tissue culture) it can 
easily obtained from any supplier of biochemicals. In the Netherlands 
it should even be available through most if not all chemists.

So does there exist any simple test for the methylenedioxy-structure? 
It would be so much easier to have a test like that!

Rene

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