Physical characteristics are reported for a tablet form of a new hallucinogenic drug previously circulating in the USA under the name “STP”. High resolution mass, nmr, ultraviolet and infrared spectrometric evidence, which identify the extracted base as 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐methylamphetamine, and its chromatographic behaviour, are compared with the experimental compound “DOM”. Polymorphic modifications exhibiting distinct solid phase infrared spectra have been studied by X‐ray diffraction and by differential calorimetry. Animal behavioural tests indicate that the psychotomimetic activity of the base is comparable with mescaline but up to 50 times more potent.

The classical cobalt(I1) thiocyanate reagent has been rendered more sensitive and selective so as to provide a convenient field test for cocaine, methaqualone and methadone, substances that fail to give clear positive responses in the widely used Marquis procedure.THE traditional colour test for cocaine consists of the addition of cobalt (11) thiocyanate solution to give a blue flaky precipitate; since Young's first report1 there have been no important modifications of this test. In searching for a field test for use by non-technical personnel for cocaine, methadone and methaqualone (abused drugs that fail to give distinctive colours in the Marquis test2) it was obvious that no single reagent could be specific, but it was hoped that response could be restricted to these three abused drugs and possibly to a limited number of rarely encountered licit preparations.

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The thin‐layer chromatography of three classes of psychotropic drugs—phenethylamines, tryptamines and erganes—has been investigated. Published methods are reviewed and Rf data, normalized by a graphical technique, are reported for extensions and modifications of some of these systems. Optimum forensic sorting procedures are recommended.

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