In brief
- A Japanese team has synthesized authentic 1D-LSD for the first time, an LSD analog that has been circulating on blotters since late 2022.
- Analysis confirms that much of what is sold under this name actually contains 1T-LSD, a different molecule with the same nominal mass.
- The two can be distinguished using appropriate analytical techniques, but not with basic testing methods.
Researchers from Japan’s National Research Institute of Police Science and the University of Tokyo have synthesized and characterized 1D-LSD for the first time—one of several LSD analogs that have been circulating online since late 2022. The study, published August 27 in Drug Testing and Analysis, confirms a long-held suspicion: much of what is sold under that label is not 1D-LSD, but a different molecule called 1T-LSD.
A chain of analogs with the same logic
Since the mid-2010s, the LSD market has seen a succession of analogs designed to remain outside the scope of controlled substance lists without losing their effects. 1P-LSD paved the way, followed by 1cP-LSD and 1V-LSD; when the latter fell under legal control in some countries, 1D-LSD filled the void. All function as prodrugs: the body transforms them into LSD after ingestion, a mechanism we covered a few days ago based on a pharmacological study. The final effect resembles that of classic acid, although the duration and dosage margins may vary from one analog to another.
Same mass, different molecule
The problem is that real 1D-LSD—formally 1-(1,2-dimethylcyclobutane-1-carbonyl)-LSD—requires a starting carboxylic acid that is expensive and difficult to obtain, manufactured by only a few custom synthesis firms. The Japanese researchers had previously detected that samples labeled as 1D-LSD actually contained 1T-LSD, a variant with a thiophene ring that shares the same nominal mass and can therefore go unnoticed in low-resolution mass spectrometers. To settle the confusion, they synthesized authentic 1D-LSD as a mixture of its four diastereomers, separated them via preparative liquid chromatography, and confirmed the structure of each using nuclear magnetic resonance supported by quantum calculations, as well as gas chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. With that reference profile in hand, they verified that the two molecules have clearly distinct analytical properties: confusing them is avoidable, but only with the right techniques.
What this implies
For those purchasing blotters labeled as 1D-LSD, the finding serves as a practical reminder: the name printed on the packaging does not guarantee what molecule is inside, and with such recent analogs, information regarding dosage and duration remains largely anecdotal. 1T-LSD is informally rumored to be slightly more potent milligram-for-milligram than classic LSD, but there are no controlled studies to confirm this. A home reagent test also cannot distinguish between the two molecules, so the only reliable way to know what has been purchased is through a laboratory with sufficient resolution chromatography and mass spectrometry. This is exactly the type of testing that should be prioritized within any harm reduction practice when new molecules appear on the market.
Source
- Okada Y, Yamamuro T, Kuwayama K et al. Synthesis and Analytical Characterization of 1-(1,2-Dimethylcyclobutane-1-Carbonyl)-Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (1D-LSD) and Differentiation From 1-(Thiophene-2-Carbonyl)-LSD (1T-LSD). Drug Testing and Analysis, August 27, 2026.
Educational content written from a harm reduction perspective and with respect for individual freedom. It is not a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional and is not intended to encourage or condemn any drug use.
