1) Introduction

This file deals with the synthesis of GHB and related compounds. It is assumed t
hat the reader already know about the pharmacological aspects of GHB (or else sh
uld consult the "General Info" references below). It is highly dangerous to atte
mpt a synthesis of GHB without the proper knowledge of practical organic chemist
ry, and illegal and immoral to even try to sell such a product. This text does n
ot in any way encourage anyone to break the law, or ingest GHB or related pharma
ceuticals. Depending on where you live, the manufacture, use and possession of G
HB may range from being perfectly legal to being a felony. I suggest you check o
ut your local laws before doing anything stupid. And - please don't mix GHB with
alcohol.
2) Chemistry and Synthesis
The far most simple way to produce GHB is by the hydrolysis of the corresponding
lactone (a cyclic intramolecular ester) to the desired hydroxy acid. Ester hydr
olysis can be done in two ways: An acid catalyzed reaction or a base catalyzed r
eaction. The base catalyzed reaction is our choice here, because the reaction is
not reversible like the acid catalyzed one and therefore we will get higher yie
lds, and we will get the sodium salt of GHB, as the free acid is not stable, and
will immediately cyclize into gamma-butyrolactone again.

Gamma-Butyrolactone + NaOH => Sodium Gamma-Hydroxy Butyrate (Na-GHB)

The reaction proceeds equimolarly (the same number of each molecule reacts), and
there are no byproducts produced in this reaction, such as hydrogen gas, water,
or anything else as proposed in several other texts. All published preparations
of GHB, or more correctly Na-GHB, refluxes butyrolactone with sodium hydroxide
in various solvents, usually in aqueous alcohol, but this is not necessary.
Lab procedures for the synthesis of GHB salts:
Please follow common Lab Safety procedures. Wear a lab coat and protective glass
es. You will work with hot caustic solutions and solvents! Be aware of the risks
associated with the manufacture of GHB! Never work alone!
Sodium GHB
Procedure:
Dissolve 130 grams (3.25 moles) of pure sodium hydroxide in 400ml of tap water i
n a 1000ml glass container while stirring with a glass rod or similar. The disso
lution is exothermic, and the solution will heat up. When everything has dissolv
ed to form a clear solution, slowly add 250ml (280 g, 2.25 moles) of gamma-butyr
olactone in 50 ml portions with good stirring. The addition of gamma-butyrolacto
ne to the sodium hydroxide solution is also exothermic, and if it is added too f
ast the solution will begin to boil, and we don't want that. Keep track of the t
emperature with an immersed thermometer. The addition of the gamma-butyrolactone
will take somewhere between 20-30 minutes. When everything has been added, let
the mixture react for an additional 10 minutes with occasional stirring.
Now it is time to see if the reaction has gone to completion by checking the pH
with universal pH paper. We are aiming for a pH of 7-8. If it is too high (pH >
8), then add 10 ml of gamma-butyrolactone and let react for a few minutes more.
If the pH is too low (pH < 7), add a few ml of concentrated NaOH solution. Conti
nue like this until the pH level is within the desired limits.

The solution is perfectly clear and tastes slightly salty. It may be slightly ye
llow colored, but not much if pure enough butyrolactone was used (distillation o
f the lactone before use takes care of this problem). If the taste reminds you o
f the lactone, you didn't either neutralize the solution good enough, or you fai
led to remove all ethanol and voilatiles. If any acid was used to neutralize a t
oo basic a solution, crystals of the sodium salt of the acid can precipitate in
the solution, and the taste is severely impaired. The GHB is best prepared by di
ssolving it in a glass of orange juice before ingesting it.
Sodium GHB has been made from NaOH and butyrolactone in water[8], in methanol[10
,11], and dilute ethanol[12]
Potassium GHB
Use the ethanol synthesis described above for sodium GHB, but substitute the 30
grams of NaOH for 45 grams of KOH (This calculation is based on the heavier K at
om, and the higher water content of KOH versus NaOH). Using KOH gives users of K
-GHB that Potassium supplement that is by some said to be needed in connection w
ith administration of GHB. Bear in mind that (powdered) K-GHB is slightly less a
ctive (by weight) than Na-GHB as the K ion is heavier than the Na counterpart. D
ifferences between K-GHB and Na-GHB is that the K salt is more soluble in water
than the Na salt, and the taste is more like salt/licorice instead of the salt/s
oap taste of Na-GHB. In the book "Better Sex Through Chemistry" by J. Morgenthal
er it is pointed out that "[GHB] has a salty/licorice flavor" and it is obvious
that the author tried the K salt.
Calcium GHB [5]
74 g analytically pure calcium hydroxide are suspended in 200 ml of tap water. 1
60 ml 4-butyrolactone are added in portions (each portion about 5 to 10 ml) and
under stirring to this suspension at room temperature. After addition of 20 ml t
he reaction mixture warms to about 50° to 60°C. The addition of 4-butyrolactone is c
ontrolled such that the temperature remains between about 50° and 60°C, which takes
about 1 hour. During this time the calcium hydroxide has dissolved practically c
ompletely. The reaction material is contaminated with a slight rust-yellow preci
pitate. It is thinned down with 300 ml methanol, is left for four hours to itsel
f and is then filtered through a folded filter. The clear filtrate is cautiously
treated with 200 ml acetone in the way that after each portion of acetone causi
ng a precipitate time is allowed for the precipitate to redissolve. A waterclear
solution is obtained which is placed for crystallization. After two hours of st
anding colorless crystals start to deposit. In this state the crystallization is
accelerated by continuous addition of acetone (in total 100 ml). The crystalliz
ation time is 24 hours. The crystals are sucked off and are washed initially wit
h 50 ml methanol and then additionally with 60 ml acetone. The crystals are drie
d at temperatures from about 60° to 80°C. in a drying cabinet. Yield: 230 g. Melting
point 166-168°C. (immediately). The product is the waterfree nonhygroscopic calci
um salt of the 4-hydroxybutyric acid. It is dissolvable as desired in water, the
aqueous solution has a pH- value of 7 to 7.5. The salt can be stored as long as
desired and does not change in air. Even upon storage no water is attracted fro
m the air.
The residue crystallizes to a mass of colorless crystals, which is after dried a
t temperatures from about 60° to 80°C. Yield: about 105 g. Melting point 164-166°C. Th
e product is Di-(4-hydroxybutyric) calcium. It is recrystallized by dissolving i
n little methanol followed by adding of acetone to cloudiness, and crystallizing
in the cold.
Instead of methanol also ethanol and isopropanol can be employed for recrystalli
zation with the same success. Without employing water containing alcohols as rec
rystallization medium or as additive of the recrystallization and purification n
o stable and in particular no nonhygroscopic calcium salts are obtained. The wat
er content of the alcohols should be from about 3-10% by volume. The such obtain
ed final product does easily dissolve in water, is not hydroscopic and has a ple
asant aromatic odor.
Magnesium GHB [5]
60 g magnesium hydroxide (analytical grade) are suspended in 200 ml tap water un
der stirring. In a stream and under stirring 160 ml butyrolactone are mixed into
this suspension. Then the mixture is heated on a water bath for 6 hours under s
tirring in a 2-liter-flask. The magnesium hydroxide dissolves practically comple
tely. The flask is allowed to stand overnight, while contaminants deposit and th
e solution is decanted without effort from the contaminant deposit. The water cl
ear decantate is initially stirred with 100 ml acetone for 10 minutes. The color
less sirupy liquid, which now turned more viscous, is mixed again with 100 ml ac
etone as described above, the acetone is again removed by decanting and the fair
ly viscous, colorless sirup is left to itself at room temperature for about 2 to
4 hours. It solidifies to a colorless crystal mass, which is comminuted in a mo
rtar and dried for several hours in air. Melting point 76°C to 78°C. Yield: 314 g in
analytically pure form.
This magnesium salt contains about 5 mole of water of hydration. It is not hydro
scopic, is stable and can be stored for arbitrary long times. By drying over sev
eral hours at 40° to 50°C it loses part of its water (1 mole) of crystallization and
then melts at 118° to 120°C. Waterfree magnesium 4-hydroxybutyrate can be produced
by removal of water by sublimation and/or evaporation of water under decreased p
artial pressure of water and at elevated temperature or by crystallization from
a solution containing an organic solvent. The waterfree salt melts at 172-174°C. T
he chemical analysis shows 10.50 weight percent magnesium (calculated 10.55 weig
ht percent magnesium). All modifications are nonhygroscopic and stable during st
orage. 1g of the magnesium salt dissolves in 2 ml water at room temperature, the
pH of the aqueous solution is 7.
It dissolves easily in water, methanol and ethanol, it does not dissolve in ethe
r and hydrocarbons, it is not hygroscopic, is storable and has a pleasant aromat
ic odor.
Other salts
The Lithium and Ammonium salts of GHB would be dangerous to ingest. Lithium ion
is toxic, and together with NH3 lactone becomes pyrrolidone.
3) Synthesis Q&A
Q: Can I use lye instead of pure sodium hydroxide?
A: No, that could have unpredictable results on your health. Hardware store lye
does not have anywhere near the rigorous purity criterions of for example food g
rade, ACS grade or electronics grade. Some people tells about successful stories
using lye, which really is possible, but as said, the results are unpredictable
.
Q: I do not have the glassware you say are needed, can I boil the solution in a
pot on the stove instead?
A: No, you can not. The sodium hydroxide will corrode the metal, and assorted me
tal ions will get into your product. You can of course use simpler glassware tha
n in my suggestions, and make the neccessary adjustments of the procedure.
Q: I cannot recrystallize the Na-GHB from ethanol. It forms a sticky mess.
A: Your Na-GHB is not dry, or your ethanol is not anhydrous. Water makes the rec
rystallation almost impossible. The fact that the sodium GHB is deliquescent (hy
groscopic) does not make this better. You must dry the GHB thoroughly, preferabl
y in a vacuum desiccator before attempting recrystallization, or any other impro
vised alternative. The ethanol you are planning to use (most often supplied in a
purity of 95%, the rest being water) must be dried by drying over anhydrous cal
cium sulfate followed by distillation from calcium oxide with adequate measures
taken to exclude moisture from the reaction.
Q: Where can I buy butyrolactone/Is it safe to buy butyrolactone?
A: I have no idea how the situation is for you in your country. The answers to t
hese questions highly depends on who you are and where you live. However, you ca
n contact any of the many sellers of GHB Kits which can be found online.
Q: Is GHB legal to manufacture/sell/possess etc?
A: As above, this depends on where you live. However, where GHB yet isn't schedu
led, GHB shuld be legal to both possess and manufacture (don't take my word for
it!). Erowid has a good page about the legal aspects of GHB.
4) GHB Analogs and Derivates
Attempts have been made to prolong and/or slightly modify the effects of GHB, wi
th small alterations of the GHB molecule. This section is also known as GIHKAL (
GHB-analogs I Have Known And Loved :-)
Methyl 4-Acetoxy Butanoate (MAB)
gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL)
1,4-Butanediol (1,4-BD)
1,4-Butanediol Diacetate (BDDA)
trans-4-Hydroxy-Crotonic Acid (T-HCA)
gamma-Hydroxy-Valeric Acid (GHV)
Methyl 4-Acetoxy Butanoate (MAB) [14,15]
Dosage: 250-2500mg
Duration: 6-12 h (depending on dosage)
Qualitative effects: The effect of this ester is mostly a powerful muscle relaxa
nt effect, with a very long duration. The accompanying high is less euphoric tha
n the one produced by GHB, although the somatic effects are very nice. Another b
ioassay can be read here.
Comment: The synthesis below can also be used to make EAB (Ethyl 4-Acetoxy Butan
ate), if you substitute absolute ethanol for the methanol. The small amount of m
ethanol released over time in the metabolism of MAB is probably not harmful, and
the toxicity of EAB is in the literature said to be in the same ballpark as GHB
. The smell and taste of MAB is much like petroleum ether.
Synthesis: 80 grams (71.5ml) of gamma-Butyrolactone and 8 grams (4ml) 98% H2SO4
was dissolved in 500ml of methanol in a 1L erlenmeyer flask, which was left stan
ding for a week with occasional swirling. Powdered sodium carbonate was carefull
y added until further additions did not produce foaming, then 20 grams anhydrous
sodium sulfate was added to dry the solution. The solution was filtered and the
excess solvent was removed by distilling up to 75°C, discarding the distillate. T
he concentrated residue was taken up in 250 ml of water and was extracted with 3
x200ml CHCl3. The extracts was dried over MgSO4, and filtered with suction. The
solvent was removed by distillation up to 80°C (save this impure chloroform, dry i
t over MgSO4 and re-distill it, saving the fraction between 60-62°C for reuse). Th
e residue was fainty yellow, and was slowly poured into a 1000ml round-bottomed
flask containing 80g acetic anhydride and 100ml pyridine, which was clamped in a
n ice-bath. After the addition was complete, the stoppered flask was left overni
ght with the ice allowed to melt. A solution of 100ml concentrated hydrochloric
acid (12M), 100 ml water and 200g of ice was prepared and carefully added. Two l
ayers formed, and 100 ml chloroform was added. The aqueous layer was extracted w
ith three 100 ml portions of chloroform, and the nonaqueous layer was combined w
ith the extracts. The extract was carefully treated with 50ml saturated aqueous
sodium bicarbonate in a separatory funnel (a lot of CO2 gas was evolved), follow
ed by shaking, and the aqueous layer was removed. The organic layer was then was
hed with 50 ml saturated sodium chloride solution, then dried over anhydrous mag
nesium sulfate, and filtered. The dried solution was freed from chloroform by di
stilling up to 100°C (save this impure chloroform, and purify as above). The resid
ue was a slightly yellow liquid amounting about 60ml. This was distilled at the
water pump, discarding the fore-run consisting of mostly pyridine. The ester cam
e over at 97-107°C, and was clear, water-white and had a high index of refraction.
Yield about 35 grams of pure methyl 4-acetoxybutanoate.
gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL)
Dosage: 0.5-3ml
Duration: 2-5 h
Qualitative effects: Very similar to GHB. More muscle relaxing and less prone to
give clonic muscle movements than GHB. Slightly longer acting, and has a more s
edative feeling than GHB. May easily give gastrointestinal disturbances like nau
sea, diarrhoea and gas.
Comment: It is not clear if ingesting butyrolactone is toxic or not. It is not c
ancerogenic as some sources say, but is probably not good for you. The taste is
extremely disagreeable. The compound has been used as a GHB pro-drug in some stu
dies, for example by GHB discoverer H. Laborit [9]. Sold in disguise as the GHB
substitute Renewtrient.
1,4-Butanediol (1,4-BD)
Dosage: 0.5-3ml
Duration: 2-5h
Qualitative effects:
Comment: This compound is marketed as the active ingredient in the "natural prod
uct" Borametz, sold for the purpose of promoting Growth Hormone release.
Synthesis: Available commercially from a number of sources.
1,4-Butanediol Diacetate (BDDA)
Dosage: 1-3ml
Duration: 2-5h
Qualitative effects: (as repported by Methaco(s)mic) I have only used doses betw
een 1.0 and 1.5ml. 1.0ml is not felt much and 1.5ml is like a medium dose of GHB
. Ordinary 1,4-butanediol feels to me almost exactly as GHB, so what does acetyl
ation do to the effects? It can be felt after 5-10 minutes (tastes like gasoline
) the peak of effects occur at the 40 minutes point and then the intoxication gr
adually dissipates during the following hours and at the 3 hour point the intoxi
cation is over. Perhaps a weak sedation and muscle relaxation lasts to the 5-hou
r point. The effects are GHB like but not as nice and not euphoric, nothing sexu
al and the disinhibition is minimal. Relaxing and anxiolytic properties, but not
fun. Rather much like MAB perhaps, but without the nice long-lasting positive e
ffects. My stomach doesn't like this stuff I feel like I have to burp but I can'
t.
Comment: The smell is very nice and flowery, but taste is unpleasant and gasolin
e-like. The water solubility is very low.
Synthesis: 20ml 99% 1,4-butanediol and 45ml 98% acetic anhydride was mixed in a
100ml round-bottomed flask and boiled under reflux for 30 min. The mixture was p
oured into 200ml water and extracted with 2x70ml chloroform, the pooled chlorofo
rm extracts washed with 2x50ml saturated sodium carbonate solution, the organic
layer dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered and the chloroform remove
d by distillation. The residue was then distilled with aspirator vacuum to yield
25ml DABD.
trans-4-Hydroxy-Crotonic Acid (T-HCA) [13,19]
Dosage:
Duration:
Qualitative effects:
Comment: T-HCA is 16% more potent as a GHB receptor agonist than GHB itself, and
most T-HCA (trans-4-hydroxy-2-butenoic acid) derivatives are more active than t
he corresponding GHB homologs. The 4-CH3 analog is 9%, and the 4-Ph analog is 27
% more potent than GHB itself. The 4-C6H11 analog is 16% less potent than GHB, a
nd cis-4-Hydroxy-Crotonic Acid (C-HCA) is inactive. T-HCA has also been identifi
ed as a naturally occurring substance in the CNS, which dismisses the theory of
T-HCA just being a synthetic semi-rigid analog of GHB, but as a possible endogen
ous receptor ligand, which also competes at GHB receptors, and possibly possesse
s specific functions of its own.
Synthesis:

To a solution of 20g (0.23 mole) of crotonic acid (2-butenoic acid) in 200ml of

dry benzene, 45.6g (0.25 mole) of N-bromosuccinimide was added under nitrogen. T
he solution was brought to a gentle reflux with stirring and was treated with 0.
5g (3.7 mmol) of 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile as a radical initiator. Refluxing w
as continued for 2 h, and the solution was cooled to 10°C. The resulting white pre
cipitate was filtered off, and the filtrate was evaporated in vacuo. The residue
was taken up with 200ml of carbon tetrachloride and the mixture was cooled to 0°C
and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated in vacuo to give 38 gram of a mixture
consisting of 85% 4-bromocrotonic acid and the rest unreacted starting material
. Pure 4-bromocrotonic acid can be obtained by multiple recrystallizations from
petroleum ether.
To a cold solution of 12g (72 mmol) of 4-bromocrotonic acid in 120 ml of water w
as added dropwise 240 ml of a 2M KOH solution in water. After the addition was c
ompleted, the solution was successively heated under reflux for 5 minutes (oil b
ath temp 120°C), cooled in an ice bath, and acidified with dilute H2SO4. The mediu
m was evaporated under vacuum, and extracted with ethyl ether. After the drying
and evaporation of the solvent, the residue was chromatographed on a silica gel
column eluted with a mixture of EtOAc:MeOH (97:3) to yield 5.22 g (71%) of pure
T-HCA. After recrystallization from EtOAc, the mp was found to be 108°C.
gamma-Hydroxy-Valeric Acid (GHV, 4-Methyl-GHB) [13]
Dosage: Similar to GHB.
Duration: Similar to GHB.
Qualitative effects: See my 4-Methyl-GHB Document
Comment: According to reference [13], GHV is 15% more potent as a GHB receptor a
gonist compared to GHB itself, and nearly as potent as T-HCA (trans-Hydroxy Crot
onic Acid). The 3-methyl derivative of GHB (GHV is the 4-methyl derivative) is 7
% more potent, and the 4-phenyl derivative is just slightly more potent than GHB
itself.
Synthesis: 8 grams (0.2 moles) of sodium hydroxide was dissolved in 50 ml of met
hanol with gentle heating, and some insolubles was filtered off. 20 grams of gam
ma-valerolactone (0.2 moles) was added as fast as the exothermic reaction allowe
d, and the solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the wet, soapy residue was dried
in a desiccator over CaCl2. The crude product was finely ground in a mortar, pla
ced in a buchner funnel, washed with 200 ml of acetone and sucked as dry as poss
ible at the pump. After drying over CaCl2, the Sodium gamma-Hydroxy-Valerate, a
deliquescent, white, crispy and slightly soapy powder, weighed 26.9 grams (96% o
f theory) and had a pleasant aromatic odor, and the taste was not unlike that of
Sodium GHB itself.
delta-Hydroxy-Valeric Acid (DHV) [13]
Dosage: Similar to GHB.
Duration: Similar to GHB.
Qualitative effects: Similar to 4-Methyl-GHB
Comment: Using delta-Valerolactone as starting material yields Sodium delta-Hydr
oxy-Valerate (DHV, 5-Hydroxy-Valerate), which is just slightly less potent than
GHB [13].
Synthesis: Same as for 4-Methyl-GHB
5) Precursors
The obvious precursor for the synthesis of GHB is gamma-Butyrolactone. It can be
made from pre-precursors such as Tetrahydrofuran (THF) with oxidants such as Ru
thenium tetroxide[2], calcium hypochlorite[3] and nitric acid[4].

4-Halo-butyric acid derivatives (chloro, bromo, iodo) can also be used. As in th

e synthesis below, they can be converted to gamma-butyrolactone by distillation
with sodium methoxide.
gamma-Butyrolactone from 4-bromobutyric acid: To a solution of 7.8 g of sodium i
n 500 cc of absolute alcohol was added 60.5 g of 4-bromobutyric acid. The reacti
on mixture was boiled under a reflux condenser for about five hours. During this
 time sodium bromide separated. The alcohol was distilled from a steam bath, and
the lactone was separated from the sodium bromide by extraction with ether. The
ether was evaporated and the lactone distilled under ordinary pressure. The yie
ld was 21.2 gram (67%) of product boiling at 202-206°C.
An alternative may be free radical chlorination of butyric acid with sulfuryl ch
loride in the presence of peroxides[6], and separate the isomers through distill
ation, make the sodium salt of 4-chlorobutyric acid, and cyclize to the lactone
as with the 4-bromo derivative above.
gamma-Butyrolactone can also be made from 4-methoxybutyric acid[7], 3-phenoxypro
pylcyanide[8], gamma-diethylaminobutyric acid[1] and beta-chloro ethyl vinyl eth
er[18] as well as many other a bit too exotic chemicals. Industrially, it is com
monly made by reacting acetylene with formaldehyde under high temperatures and p
ressures.
A very unusable synthesis comes from Journal of Chemical Education [20]:
A five-membered cyclic ester, gamma-Butyrolactone, was prepared from GHB using a
microscale reflux method. Cyclization yielded a product with a boiling point si
gnificantly greater (by 129 °C) than that of the open-chain analogue.
Purification of Precursors
CA 54; 4393i
Outlines of a purification of gamma-butyrolactone.
US Pat No 4,851,085
Purification of gamma-butyrolactone to remove metal ions and color-forming impur
ities.
US Pat No 3,891,511
Multi-stage purification of 1,4-butanediol
Other Texts Worth Looking Up
US Pat No 4,983,632
Alcoholism treatment with GHB preparations and pharmaceutical compositions desig
ned to hide the taste of GHB.
CA 59; 11234e
Sketchy synthesis of GHB and GABA and some pharmacological data.
US Pat. 5,380,937
Synthesis of salts and amides of GHB with improved pharmacological properties.
6) Physical/Chemical Properties
gamma-Butyrolactone
Mol wt 86.09; mp -43.53°C; bp 204°C; d 1.12 g/ml
CAS No: [96-48-0] Flash point: 98°C
Miscible with water, soluble in methanol, ethanol, acetone, ether, benzene
LD50: 1720 mg/kg (orally, mouse) 1540 mg/kg (orally, rat)
Uses: Solvent, paint remover, capacitor electrolyte, in organic chemistry
Synonyms: GBL, BLO, butyrolactone, gamma-hydroxy butyric acid lactone, 1,2-butan
olide, 1,4-butanolide, 4-butanolide, 2-oxanolone, tetrahydro-2-furanone, dihydro
-2(3H)-furanone.
Sodium GHB
Mol wt 126.09; mp 145-146°C
CAS No: [502-85-2]
LD50:2700mg/kg (orally, rat)
Synonyms: Gamma-OH, sodium oxybate, sodium gamma-oxybutyrate, Somatomax PM, Wy-3
478, NSC-84223, Somsanit, Anetamine.
Potassium GHB
Mol wt: 142.20
Calcium GHB
Mol wt 246.16; mp 164-166°C, 166-168°C
Magnesium GHB
Mol wt 230.39; mp (anhydrous) 172-174°C; tetrahydrate 118-120°C; pentahydrate 76-78°C
7) Info Resources
Books and publications
Better Sex Through Chemistry Contains a 50-page chapter on the benefits of GHB
GHB: The Natural Mood Enhancer The new book, which should clear all confusion ar
ound GHB
Cognitive Nutrition Update: GHB Article from Smart Drug News, Vol 3, No 6 (1994)