The Early History of MDMA

Summary

MDMA was first synthesized by the pharmaceutical company Merck during a search for an alternative synthesis of the blood-clotting agent hydrastinine, after the original synthesis had been patented by another company. Merck's chemists developed a complicated synthesis that produced MDMA as an intermediate. Although MDMA had no medical significance itself, Merck subsequently resynthesized MDA a few times for specific purposes and conducted animal experiments without discovering its effects on humans. Two common myths—that the chemist Fritz Haber first synthesized MDMA during his dissertation and that MDMA was developed as an appetite suppressant—are shown to be false.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of the early history of the molecule MDMA, which was first synthesized by the pharmaceutical company Merck, in search of a synthesis of the blood-clotting agent hydrastinine. As the original synthesis of hydrastinine had already been patented by another company, Merck needed to find an alternative synthesis. After a few failed attempts, the company’s chemists developed a rather complicated synthesis to circumvent the patent. Their new synthesis produced MDMA as an intermediate. Although it had no medical significance itself, Merck’s chemists subsequently resynthesized MDA a few times for specific purposes and conducted animal experiments, without, however, discovering its effects on humans. Two myths about the origin of MDMA often encountered in the literature—that the prominent German chemist Fritz Haber first synthesized MDMA whilst working on his dissertation, and that MDMA had been developed and tested as an appetite suppressant—are discussed and shown to be false.