Application of analytical methods for the structural characterization and purity assessment of N,N-dimethyltryptamine, a potent psychedelic agent isolated from Mimosa tenuiflora inner barks
Microchemical Journal April 5, 2012 Alain Gaujac, Sabrina Teixeira Martinez, Arão Araújo Gomes et al. 34 citations
A simple and fast method was developed to extract N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) from the inner bark of Mimosa tenuiflora, producing a high-purity (>95%) analytical standard for chromatography. The extracted DMT was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and melting point measurements, all of which matched previous literature. This method addresses the difficulty of acquiring DMT, a banned substance in most countries, for use as a reference standard in analytical chemistry. In Brazil, DMT is a controlled drug, though the DMT-rich beverage ayahuasca is legally consumed in religious contexts.