elosejohn (Stranger) 07-20-04 22:13 No 520541				alpha tryptamines
						i was just wondering, what the alpha means in amt, where can i do research in depth beyond sasha writings also i was wondering if these compounds are radioactive, and to what degree, and if so if strength is affected by decay
		moo (Hive Bee) 07-21-04 08:25 No 520621				The alpha carbon
						It refers to the alpha carbon which is the first aliphatic carbon in the tryptamine molecule looking from the amino group. The next carbon is beta carbon, and if there was a third aliphatic carbon it would be the gamma carbon, but as the third carbon is a part of the aromatic indole nucleus it isn't. The carbons labeled with greek letters are always aliphatic and the ordering is usually relative to the functional group that forms the suffix of the name, hence looking from the amino group. Compare the structures of tryptamine, AMT and AET. The first has a hydrogen in the alpha position, the second a methyl group and the third an ethyl group. These matters are also discussed in http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/pihkal/pihkal142.shtml in relation to phenethylamines. As you can see it has nothing to do with radioactivity. fear fear hate hate