Alcohols
Contrary to popular belief, fermented alcoholic drinks usually contain several alcohols, but in smaller amounts than ethanol, that act as psychoactive drugs with different degrees of potency and effects and also contribute to the color, odor, and flavor of beverages.
Chemistry
Alcohol is a highly diverse chemical class of organic compounds that contain one or more hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups bound to a carbon atom. Alcohols are classified into primary, secondary (sec-, s-), and tertiary (tert-, t-) alcohols, based upon the number of carbon atoms connected to the carbon atom that bears the hydroxyl functional group.
List of psychoactive alcohols
See also: UserWiki:David Hedlund/Comparison of psychoactive alcohols in alcoholic drinks
Compound | R1 | R2 | R3 | Structure |
---|---|---|---|---|
Methanol | H | H | H | |
Ethanol (Alcohol) | CH3 | H | H | |
1-Propanol | CH2CH3 | H | H | |
2-Methyl-1-propanol (2M1P) | CH(CH3)2 | H | H | |
2-Methyl-1-butanol (2M1B) | CH(CH3)CH2CH3 | H | H | |
3-Methyl-1-butanol (3M1B) | CH2CH(CH3)2 | H | H | |
2-Phenylethanol | CH2C6H5 | H | H | |
Isopropanol | CH3 | CH3 | H | |
2-Methyl-2-propanol (2M2P) | CH3 | CH3 | CH3 | |
2-Methyl-2-butanol (2M2B) | CH2CH3 | CH3 | CH3 | |
Methylpentynol | CCH | CH2CH3 | CH3 | |
Ethchlorvynol | CCH | CH=CHCl | CH2CH3 | |
UMB68 | CH2CH2C(OH)=O | CH3 | CH3 | |
Tryptophol | CH2C(=CHNH)C6H4 | H | H |