MICROBIAL TRANSFORMATION OF 3,4-METHYLENEDIOXY-N-METHYLAMPHETAMINE AND 3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYAMPHETAMINE

The biotransformation of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) and 3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine (MDA) was examined in the fungus C unninghamella echinulata. In addition to the reported mammalian metabo lites (MDA, 3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl methyl ketoxime, 3,4-methylenedio xybenzyl methyl ketone) and the parent substrate, there were six novel metabolites detected. N-Acetyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (NAcMDA) was unequivocally identified and three unidentified metabolites relat ed to NAcMDA were also detected. N-Acetyl-3,4-methylenedioxy-1 -phenyl -1-hydroxy-2-aminopropane was tentatively identified as a metabolite o f MDMA. The only metabolite of MDA identified was NAcMDA. Two metaboli tes related to MDA remain unidentified.