Mythbusters #2: Primo/Mast + Fentanyl share synthesis

[ChemBB]

Welcome to "Mythbusters" Part 2: The Fentanyl Conspiracy

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In this edition, we're dismantling one of the most bizarre myths circulating in the community!
"Masteron and Primobolan share synthesis precursors or reagents with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids."

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The Core Problem: Completely Different Chemical Classes

Let's be clear: AAS are derivatives of testosterone with a characteristic four-ring steroid nucleus (the gonane skeleton).
Fentanyl is a synthetic phenylpiperidine opioid. It's structurally related to piperidine.

These are as chemically different as caffeine and testosterone. They don't share:

• Core molecular scaffolds
• Functional groups
• Biosynthetic or synthetic precursors
• Manufacturing reagents of any significance

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Synthesis Reality Check

AAS Synthesis (Masteron/Primobolan):

Anabolic steroids are semi-synthetic derivatives starting from steroid precursors.
Key reagents include things like acetic anhydride for acetylation, oxidizing agents (Jones reagent, PCC), and catalysts for specific transformations.

Masteron is most easily produced via DHT as the starting material
The Wiki page even lists this as the canonical synthesis method:



Fentanyl Synthesis:

Fentanyl is synthesized from completely different starting materials:

• N-phenethyl-4-piperidone (NPP or "4-ANPP")
• Aniline derivatives
• Propionyl chloride or propionic anhydride for the amide formation

While both may use common generic reagents like acetic anhydride or propionic anhydride (which are used in thousands of different syntheses across chemistry), this is meaningless.

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Why This Myth is Chemically Illiterate

Let's use an analogy:

Claiming Masteron and fentanyl share synthesis precursors because both syntheses might use acetic anhydride is like claiming:

• Cars and bicycles are made from the same materials because both use metal and rubber
• A skyscraper and a wooden shed are identical because both require hammers during construction

The molecular architecture is what matters.
You cannot accidentally synthesize a steroid when trying to make an opioid, or vice versa. The core scaffolds are built through entirely different chemical logic.

There is no convergent pathway where "oops, we added the wrong reagent and got fentanyl instead of Masteron."

Thanks for attending my TED talk.

 

[BigMike305]

Great post , thank you

 

[Groundfighter]

Why the shortage then ?

 

[trtchin]

Why the shortage then ?

We may never know but from what it seems one of the major labs producing got shut down.

 

[Ghoul]

It's been discussed

Why the shortage then ?

It's been discussed multiple times.

Shipping kilograms of SCHEDULED CONTROLLED DRUGS, which includes AAS, illegal in almost every country and by international treaties China is signed on to, from illegal drug producer to your front doorstep with the ease of selling cheap pans on Temu isn't normal. It's never been normal.

China's decided it's not in their interest to continue being the primary supplier of synthetic controlled drugs to the world (primarily the US).

Every dollar of legal goods sent to the US gets a 25% EXTRA tariff slapped on it just for their involvement with illegal drugs. That's over a BILLION dollars a month being charged to Chinese exporters, That extra charge comes off once the US is satisfied the Chinese Communists, a totalitarian government that controls virtually everything within their borders, is no longer a facilitator of the illegal drug trade.

Whatever the illegal drug precursor business was worth per year in China, it's only a tiny fraction of what's being lost by the Chinese every month as a result.

Every time a shipment of scheduled drugs gets found by customs, it gives the US another justification to keep the extra 25% tariff in place and undermines China's economy. So they've cracked down on all scheduled drug producers, and sooner or later will be able to point to all they've done and say "We've done everything reasonable to stop this, there's no justification to continue the 25% penalty".

There are plenty of indicators they've been successful since fentanyl is getting squeezed and replaced by other things. And of course, we see what's happening to AAS, even though it's not anyone's target, it's still Schedule III drugs.