Overview of the synthetic approaches to lysergic acid as a precursor to the psychedelic LSD
Michael J. Nutt, Nick Woolf, Scott G. Stewart
Australian Journal of Chemistry July 7, 2023 DOI: 10.1071/ch23055 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | LSD |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Argues that lysergic acid is a key precursor for LSD, related derivatives, and many serotonin-receptor-targeting drugs, and that renewed academic and commercial interest in psychedelic therapeutics has made practical, scalable synthesis of this complex alkaloid scaffold newly important. |
Abstract
In this short primer we will discuss the total synthesis of lysergic acid, an important precursor to both lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and its derivatives. Lysergic acid is also noted as a precursor for many drugs targeting the serotonin receptor family of GPCRs, including multiple known hallucinogens. More recently, reinvigorated interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics from academic and commercial sectors has placed a renewed importance on practical, scalable means of accessing this complex alkaloid scaffold.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study of a New Schizophrenomimetic Drug—Sernyl | 1959 | Review | |
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| The Pharmacology of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: A Review | 2008 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| ADVERSE REACTIONS TO PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE | 1984 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 5
- Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences April 11, 2016
- Crystal structure of an LSD-bound human serotonin receptor Cell January 26, 2017
- Modern Clinical Research on LSD Neuropsychopharmacology April 27, 2017
- Psychedelic drugs—a new era in psychiatry? Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience June 30, 2019
- Biosynthesis, total synthesis, and biological profiles of Ergot alkaloids. The Alkaloids: Chemistry and Biology 2021