Stimulants like amphetamine, MDMA, and methamphetamine are known to produce reinforcing effects in animals through the brain chemical dopamine. However, their subjective effects in humans—such as euphoria or alertness—may rely more on norepinephrine. Using lab tests, the authors measured how several stimulants affect the release of norepinephrine and dopamine. They found that all tested drugs were most potent at releasing norepinephrine. Crucially, the oral doses that produce amphetamine-like subjective effects in people correlated with the drugs' ability to release norepinephrine, not dopamine, and did not lower prolactin levels (a marker of dopamine release). These findings suggest norepinephrine may play a key role in the subjective experience of stimulants in humans.
A new method for tritiating aryl compounds uses ortho metallation followed by reduction of the carbon–metal bond to produce tritium labelled ibogaine. This labelled compound is intended for pharmacological studies of ibogaine as an anti-addiction treatment for cocaine abuse.
A new method introduces tritium into aryl compounds using tritium gas directly on the underivatized substrate. By combining directed ortho metallation with a reduction of the carbon-potassium bond, tritium is incorporated at high specific activity under mild conditions. The approach is demonstrated by preparing tritium-labeled ibogaine, showing its utility for synthesizing radiolabeled compounds for research.