The origin of MDMA (ecstasy) revisited: the true story reconstructed from the original documents*

MDMA was first synthesized by Merck in 1912, but not as an appetite suppressant as commonly claimed. Original documents from Merck's archive show it was an unimportant precursor in a new synthesis for hemostatic substances, patented to evade a competitor's patent. Pharmacological testing occurred in 1927 and 1959, but not in humans. The myth that MDMA was developed as an appetite suppressor likely arose from uncritical copy-paste errors in later literature.

Study at a glance

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Little is known about the origin of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy). The most commonly repeated statement in the medical literature is that MDMA was synthesized by the German pharmaceutical company Merck in 1912 in order to develop an appetite suppressor. Aim To reconstruct the true story of the first known description of MDMA at Merck using the original documents. Methods A systematic analysis of the original documents in Merck’s historical archive in Darmstadt, Germany, was conducted (years 1900–60). Results There were no indications for plans to develop an appetite suppressant at Merck between 1900 and 1960. Although MDMA was, in fact, first synthesized at Merck in 1912, it was not tested pharmacologically because it was only an unimportant precursor in a new synthesis for haemostatic substances. The new pathway was patented in order to evade an existing patent by a local competitor. MDMA was called ‘Methylsafrylamin’ in 1912. In 1927 and 1959, the pharmacological effects of MDMA were studied at Merck, but not in humans. Discussion A systematic analysis of the original documents in the company’s archive revealed that uncritical copy‐paste procedures may have contributed to the famous myth that MDMA was patented as an appetite suppressor in 1912.