Phenylacetone, also known as phenyl-2-propanone, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5CH2COCH3. It is a colorless oil that is soluble in organic solvents. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative, consisting of an acetone attached to a phenyl group. As such, its systematic IUPAC name is 1-phenyl-2-propanone. This substance is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and amphetamine, where it is commonly known as P2P. Due to illicit drug labs using phenylacetone to make amphetamines, phenylacetone was declared a schedule II controlled substance in the United States in 1980. In humans, phenylacetone occurs as a metabolite of amphetamine and methamphetamine via FMO3-mediated oxidative deamination.

Synthesis

There are many routes to synthesize phenylacetone. Industry uses the gas-phase ketonic decarboxylation of phenylacetic acid using acetic acid over a ceria-alumina solid acid catalyst. A related laboratory-scale reaction has been described. An alternative route is zeolite-catalyzed isomerization of phenylpropylene oxide. Another laboratory synthesis involves conventional routes including the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of chloroacetone with benzene in the presence of aluminum chloride catalyst.

Amphetamine metabolism

Phenylacetone is an intermediate in the biodegradation of amphetamine. In the human liver, flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) deaminates amphetamines into phenylacetone, which is non-toxic to humans. Phenylacetone is oxidized to benzoic acid, which is converted to hippuric acid by glycine N-acyltransferase (GLYAT) enzymes prior to excretion. Phenylacetone can undergo para-hydroxylation to 4-hydroxyphenylacetone, which occurs as a metabolite of amphetamine in the human body.

Regulation and culture

To prevent illicit synthesis of amphetamines from phenylacetone, the precursor phenylacetic acid is subject to regulation in the United States under the Chemical Diversion and Trafficking Act. In the TV series Breaking Bad, Walter White manufactures methamphetamine using phenylacetone and methylamine through a reductive amination reaction. White produced phenylacetone in a tube furnace using phenylacetic acid and acetic acid.