ALD-52, also known as 1-
acetyl
In organic chemistry, acetyl is a functional group with the chemical formula and the structure . It is sometimes represented by the symbol Ac (not to be confused with the element actinium). In IUPAC nomenclature, acetyl is called ethanoyl, ...
-LSD, is a
chemical analogue
A structural analog (analogue in modern traditional English; Commonwealth English), also known as a chemical analog or simply an analog, is a compound having a structure similar to that of another compound, but differing from it in respect to a c ...
of
lysergic acid diethylamide
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also known colloquially as acid, is a potent psychedelic drug. Effects typically include intensified thoughts, emotions, and sensory perception. At sufficiently high dosages LSD manifests primarily mental, vi ...
(LSD).
It was originally discovered by
Albert Hofmann
Albert Hofmann (11 January 1906 – 29 April 2008) was a Swiss chemist known for being the first to synthesize, ingest, and learn of the psychedelic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Hofmann's team also isolated, named and synthesi ...
in 1957
but was not widely studied until the rise in popularity of
psychedelics
Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...
in the 1960s.
Effects
In Entry 26 of his compendium ''
TiHKAL
''TIHKAL: The Continuation'' is a 1997 book written by Alexander Shulgin and Ann Shulgin about a family of psychoactive drugs known as tryptamines. A sequel to '' PIHKAL: A Chemical Love Story'', ''TIHKAL'' is an acronym that stands for "Tryp ...
'', which discussed LSD,
chemist
A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe th ...
Alexander Shulgin
Alexander Theodore "Sasha" Shulgin (June 17, 1925 – June 2, 2014) was an American medicinal chemist, biochemist, organic chemist, pharmacologist, psychopharmacologist, and author. He is credited with introducing 3,4-methylenedioxymethamph ...
touched briefly on the subject of ALD-52. His comments there are vague, second-hand accounts saying doses in the 50–175 µg range have resulted in various conclusions. One account found that there was less visual distortion than with LSD and it seemed to produce less anxiety and tenseness and that it was somewhat less potent. Another informant claimed it was more effective in increasing
blood pressure
Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels. Most of this pressure results from the heart pumping blood through the circulatory system. When used without qualification, the term "blood pressure" r ...
. Yet another informant could not tell them apart.
Safety
In ''The Hallucinogens'' by Hoffer and Osmond (1967), ALD-52 is listed as having a lower (approximately
1/
5) ''
intravenous
Intravenous therapy (abbreviated as IV therapy) is a medical technique that administers fluids, medications and nutrients directly into a person's vein. The intravenous route of administration is commonly used for rehydration or to provide nutrie ...
'' toxicity (in rabbits), a lower (approximately
1/
8)
pyretogenic effect, an equal psychological effect in humans, and double the "antiserotonin" effect as compared with LSD. Human experiments have not been well documented.
History
In a
Reddit AMA
r/IAmA is a subreddit for question-and-answer interactive interviews termed "AMA" (short for "Ask Me Anything"). AMA interviewees have ranged from various celebrities to everyday people in several lines of work. Founded in May 2009, the subredd ...
with the director of the movie ''
The Sunshine Makers'',
Tim Scully
Robert "Tim" Scully (born August 27, 1944) is an American computer engineer, best known in the psychedelic underground for his work in the production of LSD from 1966 to 1969, for which he was indicted in 1973 and convicted in 1974. His best know ...
says:
"The Orange Sunshine we delivered was LSD 25. ALD 52 was an ill-advised desperate defense strategy that failed miserably... The story of Orange Sunshine is complicated by the fact that The Brotherhood distributed LSD from more than one manufacturer as Orange Sunshine. "Nick and I made the original Orange Sunshine in Windsor. That was the last lab I worked in making LSD. Ron Stark managed several LSD labs in Europe and most of his output was tableted and sold as Orange Sunshine. At least some of the LSD that his labs made was not pure."
Tim Scully has confirmed that the speculation below is incorrect.
The Orange Sunshine variety of LSD that was widely available in
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
through 1968 and 1969 was produced in the
Sonoma County
Sonoma County () is a county (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States Census, its population was 488,863. Its county seat and largest city is Santa Rosa, California, Santa Rosa. It is to the n ...
underground chemistry lab of
Tim Scully
Robert "Tim" Scully (born August 27, 1944) is an American computer engineer, best known in the psychedelic underground for his work in the production of LSD from 1966 to 1969, for which he was indicted in 1973 and convicted in 1974. His best know ...
and
Nicholas Sand
Nicholas Sand (born Nicholas Francis Hiskey; May 10, 1941 – April 24, 2017) was a cult figure known in the psychedelic community for his work as a clandestine chemist from 1966 to 1996 for the Brotherhood of Eternal Love.Nocenti, Annie. B ...
. It was shut down by the police, and Scully was arrested and prosecuted. This resulted in the first drug analogue trial, where Scully claimed that he and his partners did nothing illegal, because they were producing ALD-52, which was not an
illicit drug
The prohibition of drugs through sumptuary legislation or religious law is a common means of attempting to prevent the recreational use of certain intoxicating substances.
While some drugs are illegal to possess, many governments regulate the ...
. However, as the prosecution claimed, there were problems with such a rationale—ALD-52 was claimed to readily undergo
hydrolysis
Hydrolysis (; ) is any chemical reaction in which a molecule of water breaks one or more chemical bonds. The term is used broadly for substitution reaction, substitution, elimination reaction, elimination, and solvation reactions in which water ...
to LSD, and secondly, the synthesis of ALD-52 required LSD. (The second point was based on the methods available in the scientific literature at the time). Scully was convicted and served time in prison.
Legal status
![ALD-52 animation](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/ALD-52_animation.gif)
Austria
ALD-52 is technically not illegal but it may fall in the NPSG (Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz Österreich) as an analogue of LSD
Denmark
ALD-52 is not listed as an illegal substance in Denmark as of April, 2019, and its chemical class 'lysergamide' is not banned under the Analogue Act (Some LSD analogues are, however, prohibited).
Finland
ALD-52 is labeled a controlled psychoactive substance in Finland as of 2014.
Germany
ALD-52 is controlled under the NpSG as of July 18, 2019. Production and import with the aim to place it on the market, administration to another person and trading is punishable. Possession is illegal but not penalized.
Latvia
ALD-52 is illegal in Latvia. Although it isn't officially scheduled, it is controlled as an LSD structural analog due to an amendment made on June 1, 2015.
Romania
1P-LSD is illegal to produce or sell in Romania. It is not included directly in the list of controlled substances, but it is included i
an analogue act However, it is not, as of yet, classified as illegal to use.
Singapore
ALD-52 is a class A controlled drug, and is illegal to traffic, manufacture, import, export, possess, or consume in Singapore as of December 1, 2019, punishable with a minimum of five years’ imprisonment and five strokes of the cane.
Switzerland
Since March 2018, ALD-52 is illegal in Switzerland and has been put in th
RS 812.121.11
United Kingdom
On June 10, 2014 the UK
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is a British statutory advisory non-departmental public body, which was established under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Mandate
Its terms of reference, according to the Act, are as follows:
'' ...
(ACMD) recommended that ALD-52 be specifically named in the
UK Misuse of Drugs Act as a class A drug despite not identifying it as ever having been sold or any harm associated with its use.
The UK Home office accepted this advice and announced a ban of the substance to be enacted on 6 January 2015 as part o
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2014
United States
ALD-52 is unscheduled in the United States. It may be considered an analogue of LSD, a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. As such, the sale for human consumption or the use for illicit non-medical or scientific use could be prosecuted as crimes under the Federal Analogue Act however could be legal for medical and research uses like a
research chemical.
See also
*
Lysergic acid diethylamide
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also known colloquially as acid, is a potent psychedelic drug. Effects typically include intensified thoughts, emotions, and sensory perception. At sufficiently high dosages LSD manifests primarily mental, vi ...
(LSD)
*
1cP-LSD
*
1B-LSD
*
1P-LSD
*
1V-LSD
*
1cP-AL-LAD
*
AL-LAD
AL-LAD, also known as 6-allyl-6-''nor''-LSD, is a psychedelic drug and an analog of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). It is described by Alexander Shulgin in the book '' TiHKAL'' (''Tryptamines i Have Known And Loved''). It is synthesized starti ...
*
ETH-LAD
ETH-LAD, 6- ethyl-6-''nor''-lysergic acid diethylamide is an analogue of LSD. Its human psychopharmacology was first described by Alexander Shulgin in the book TiHKAL. ETH-LAD is a psychedelic drug similar to LSD, and is slightly more potent th ...
*
PRO-LAD
PRO-LAD is an analogue of LSD. It is described by Alexander Shulgin in the book TiHKAL. PRO-LAD is a psychedelic drug
Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousn ...
*
LSM-775
''N''-Morpholinyllysergamide (LSM-775) is a derivative of ergine. It is less potent than LSD but is reported to have some LSD-like effects at doses ranging from 75 to 700 micrograms and a shorter duration. There are fewer signs of cardiovascular ...
*
LSZ
*
O-Acetylpsilocin
''O''-Acetylpsilocin (also known as psilacetin, 4-acetoxy-DMT, 4-AcO-DMT, or synthetic shrooms) is a semi-synthetic psychoactive drug that has been suggested by David Nichols to be a potentially useful alternative to psilocybin for pharmacolog ...
(4-AcO-DMT)
References
External links
Entry #26 from TiHKALeverything2Lycaeum
{{Ergolines
Lysergamides
Euphoriants
Psychedelic drugs
Serotonin receptor agonists
Entheogens
Designer drugs
Acetamides