Re: MAPS: Special Digest: LSD on Blotter Paper

[Peter Webster <vignes@xxxxxxxxx>]

One further comment on LSD on paper, stability, etc.

LSD, as well as many other sensitive molecules, acquire a significantly
enhanced stability and resistance to decompostion when they are in
crystalline form, even if those crystals are tiny and mixed with an inert
substance such as in a tablet. A tablet also protects the product in its
interior: I once had some ergonovine tablets, and intentionally left one in
the sun for a few hours to see how badly it would be decomposed. After a
while, it turned very dark on the surface, but breaking it open and
examining the interior with a blacklight, the bright blue-white fluoresence
typical of lysergic acid amide salts was no different than in an unexposed
tablet.

The main problem with blotter LSD is that one is required to dissolve the
crystal, usually in alcohol-water mixtures, to absorb it on the paper. When
the liquid dries, the dissolved LSD does NOT recrystallize significantly
within the matrix of paper fibers, but "oils", i.e., it forms a gummy
amorphous residue, which is far more susceptible to decomposition than the
crystalline form. Crystallization of LSD from methanol solution is not
difficult, but requires certain details of concentration and anhydrous
solvent. Thus the contention that it does not significantly recrystallize
on the paper.

Also, particular to LSD, is its changeover to iso-LSD: a process that is
largely prevented when it is in crystal form, but when in solution or as an
amorphous residue, reaches (ideally) an equilibrium mixture of 88% LSD to
12% iso-LSD in about a week, depending on the presence of certain ions
which either speed up the process or slow it. Since this is an equilibrium,
that means that all the molecules are constantly flipping back and forth
between isomeric states, and the probablility that any one molecule will be
in its active (d-LSD) state is therefore 0.88. And since the flipping
process is not quantitative, and involves a higher energy-state, the
process of changeover probably involves some decomposition. Therefore, we
see that the amorphous state in a blotter is quite susceptible to constant
degradation. The rate will be dependent on temperature, exposure to light
and acidic components in the air combined with atmospheric moisture. So
airtight in a freezer definitely tends to minimize the rate of decomposition.

All of this information is readily available in *Chemical Abstracts* ...
pw

------------------
MAPS-Forum@xxxxxxxx, a member service of the Multidisciplinary Association
for Psychedelic Studies (to become a member, see www.maps.org/memsub.html).
To [un]subscribe, email the message text,
[un]subscribe maps-forum youraddress to majordomo@xxxxxxxx