The Attitude of the DEA toward p-Benzoquinone

[firewall]

I was unsure about what forum to post my question in because it involves both chemistry (i.e., a specific chemical) and the legal status of that chemical in the US. If my thread is in the wrong location, I apologize in advance.

Background:

I have done a thorough amount of searching via the Internet, and I was unable to find any information whatsoever about the DEA's current attitude toward p-benzoquinone. As you may or may not know, p-benzoquinone has a legitimate use in darkroom photography. However, a large supplier of darkroom chemicals, which will not be named, currently refuses to sell p-benzoquinone unless the customer fills out a DEA registration form. Pardon my language, but why the hell would a form be necessary? According to all of the sources at my disposble, p-benzoquinone is neither a List I or List II chemical (nor is it even watched).

Question:

Why would a DEA form be required? Are my sources of information up-to-date? Is it simply the policy of that company or has the DEA developed a new attitude toward p-benzoquinone that it has not made known to the public? Any information would be appreciated.

[Alfa]

There is also the possibility that the company in question is aware of alternative uses of the compound and distrusts new customers for this product.

[firewall]

Originally Posted by Alfa

There is also the possibility that the company in question is aware of alternative uses of the compound and distrusts new customers for this product.

That is what I am wondering because if it is simply the policy of that company, then a prospective buyer could go elsewhere without worrying about being scrutinized by the DEA (with respect to unsuspcious quantities, of course). However, I would not put it past the DEA to start monitoring a chemical without informing the public either.

[glorf]

it suggests a particularly friendly relationship with the DEA or a particularly frightened vendor (yes i know the site). either way it illustrates the influence of the phone and mail campaign (if not actual visits, and record requests of previous transactions) of the DEA/DOJ on US internet chemical vendors, and how the actual law need not be necessary.

[sg43]

SWIM had success getting this chemical from a photo chem company in canada, just do not order a large amount at one time to avoid suspicion at customs.

[Jonah]

However, a large supplier of darkroom chemicals, which will not be named, currently refuses to sell p-benzoquinone unless the customer fills out a DEA registration form. Pardon my language, but why the hell would a form be necessary? According to all of the sources at my disposble, p-benzoquinone is neither a List I or List II chemical (nor is it even watched).

That particular uh, forumulary, was one of a couple of places mentioned in a very intelligent, very ambitious, very brave clandestine chemist's book. Silver printing, and so on, was pretty obscure anyway with all the premixed shit for photography but after the feds got ahold of the sources mentioned, they let all the american (and some others, apparently...) know that they wanted any company that was mentioned in that book to be well aware of the potential legal ramifications for being involved with something like that. And instead of shut down their shit, well, now you have to let the DEA know that you're buying. And you can bet most places with that stuff know of its other uses, and that the name used to purchase those items will eventually be cataloged and sent further up the grapevine.

Thus, he fucked it up for a lot of people. You can bet anymore the obvious avenues to success are also the most patrolled. A bunch of people got caught with their pants down with that whole stupid mess, on both sides, so i dont know if its the best idea anymore, although im sure plenty of people get away with it. Or at least, some.

Isnt most of that stuff imported from overseas anyway?

Watch yourself with customs.

-j.

[Mezza]

There are other routes to P-Benzoquinone that dont require ordering quasi-watched chems or trying to import anything. Google is your friend

Mezza

[Jonah]

rightyo- hydroquinone is pretty damn close, right? just a couple of oxygens off isnt it?

[Mezza]

Yep

http://www.erowid.org/archive/rhodiu...zoquinone.html

http://www.wetdreams.ws/forum/mainup...2554_benzo.htm

might not want to link to this one from here:

patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnet ahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=4,973,72 0.PN.&OS=PN/4,973,720&RS=PN/4,973,720


From what I've read and seen, small quantities of p-Benzoquinone aren't really suspect. It seems to be readily available from Canada from certain auction related sites. The above reactions seem fairly straight forward, and their reagents are hardly suspect - always better to be safe than sorry, IMO.

Mezza

Reputation Comments on this post:

Great p-benzo information. Thanks!