
PCP Synthesis
Scanned from Recreational Drugs: A Complete Guide to Manufacturing 

PHENCYCLIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE 

Phencyclidine and Other l-Phenylcyclohexylamines. Phencyclidine (PCP or angel 
dust) and its analogs create many different types of effects, dependent mainly
on the individual user. It was first used to immobilize primates and is still 
used as an analgesic and/or anesthetic agent. It has been used on humans for the 
same purpose with limited success. I chose to put PCP into the hallucinogens 
chapter instead of the analgesics chapter because of the hallucinations the drug
produces. 

As stated above, the effects are mainly determined by the user. Some people 
experience paranoia, others have fits of rage, and others have great euphoria.
Mood alterations are always accompanied with time, perception and visual 
hallucinations. Some people have tried the drug and do not agree with it, so I 
do not approve of the practice of telling people that your PCP is THC or some 
other hallucinogen. These drugs are quite potent, so use them with a great deal 
of respect (I think that overdoses have CP the bad reputation that follows it 
today) as bummers from this drug have occurred often. 

The way that ethylamine, diethylamine, methylamine, piperidine, etc., can be 
used as analogs of one or another reminds me of the synthesis of LSD or DMTs.
The formula is quite easy to carry out and it gives good yields in large 
quantities. Note: Given are several different methods. You may use any way that 
you feel will suit your needs and you may substitute any of the amines with an 
equimolar amount of amine analog to produce the desired l-phenylcyclohexylamine.
However, the formulas stated give the best yields obtainable with that 
particular amine. 

These drugs are active orally, intermuscularly, and also by smoking. They 
should be kept in a dark, well stoppered bottle, in a freezer as much as 
possible. CA, 13881 (1963). 

METHOD 1. A mixture of 100 g of anhydrous ethylamine and 220 g of cyclohexanone 
is kept 16 hours, shaken with solid KOH, and the oil layer is removed by 
decantation. Distill the oil layer in vacuo to get the intermediate 
N-cyclohexylidenethylamine. Prepare a mixture of phenyllithium by mixing 11 g 
of lithium and 76 ml PhBr in 500 ml of Et20. Add the phenyllithium dropwise to 
a solution of 51 g of the N-cyclohexylidenethylamine in 500 ml of Et20, with 
stirring and cooling, to keep the temp at 0¡. Stir for one hour and then 
decompose by adding water. Separate the Et20 layer, wash with H20 and distill 
to get 1-phenylcyclohexylethylamine or analog. The hydrochloride form is 
obtained in the usual way, as given below. 

METHOD 2. A mixture of 170 g of piperidine, 220 g of cyclohexylamine, and 750 
ml of benzene is azeotropically distilled until the evolution of H20 stops,
then vacuum distill to get cyclohexenyl-piperidine. p-toluenesulfonic acid 
monohydrate (190 g) in 250 ml of PhMe is heated under a water trap until all 
the H20 is removed, then add a solution of 165 g of cyclohexyl-piperidine in 
500 ml of Et20, with cooling, to keep temp at 0¡. A solution of I mole of PhMgBr 
(made from 157 g of PhBr and 24 g of Mg) in 750 ml of Et20 is added (still 
holding the temp at 0¡ to 5¡). The mixture is stirred for an additional 30 min 
after the dropwise addition is complete. Decompose the mixture by adding an 
excess saturated NH4Cl and NH40H. The Et20 layer is removed, dried over K2CO3,
and distilled to give phenylcyclohexylpiperidine. Convert to the hydrochloride 
form by dissolving the free base in an excess of iso-PrOH-HC1 and then 
precipitate the salt (the hydrochloride) with Et20 and crystallize from 
Et20-iso-PrOH (this is a mixture). 



Synthesis of Cyclohexanone: 

20 g of cyclohexanol is placed in a flask and to it is added a 30°C mixture of 
41 g of potassium dichromate, 200 c of water and 19 cc of concd sulfuric acid. 
Shake and cool to keep the temp below 60°C, but not less than 55°C. After some 
time, the temp will remain steady, it is then heated to 60°C and cooled at room 
temp for 1 hour. The mixture is then added to 200 cc of water and distilled 
until 100 cc have been collected. Add about 24 g of sodium chloride and shake. 
Let stand, separate the lower layer and extract it with ether. The extract is 
added to the cyclohexanone upper layer, dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, 
filtered, and distilled, collecting the fraction at 150-155°C. 
Yield: about 12 g of the colorless liquid.
