Agurell has previously detected (tlc, glc-ms)
tyramine,
3-methoxytyramine, and two unknown
alkaloids in the Peruvian cactus, Trichocereus peruvianus Br. and R. The presence of
mescaline in other similar Trichocereus species prompted us to reinvestigate this species, which is commercially available in the United States. The nonphenolic
alkaloid extracts yielded an abundance of crystalline
mescaline hydrochloride (0.82% yield) and a trace of 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine (tlc-ms). Crystalline
tyramine hydrochloride,
3-methoxytyramine hydrochloride, and 3,5 dimethoxy-4-hydroxphenethylamine hydrochloride were isolated from the phenolic
alkaloid extracts; the last compound has not been previously crystallized from nature, although it is the immediate biosynthetic precursor of
mescaline. Crystalline 2-chloromescaline hydrochloride was isolated drom the nonphenolic extracts; but, as determined by mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry, this new compound is an extraction artifact. Both 2-chloromescaline and 2.6-dichloromescaline hydrochlorides were prepared synthetically from
mescaline. This cactus species has a
mescaline content equal or superior to
peyote and should be legally controlled as an item of
drug abuse.