Amphetamine, discovered before methamphetamine, was first synthesized in 1887 in Germany by Romanian chemist Lazăr Edeleanu who named it phenylisopropylamine.[162][163] Shortly after, methamphetamine was synthesized from ephedrine in 1893 by Japanese chemist Nagai Nagayoshi.[164] Three decades later, in 1919, methamphetamine hydrochloride was synthesized by pharmacologist Akira Ogata via reduction of ephedrine using red phosphorus and iodine.[165]
From 1938, methamphetamine was marketed on a large scale in Germany as a nonprescription drug under the brand name Pervitin, produced by the Berlin-based Temmler pharmaceutical company.[166][167] It was used by all branches of the combined armed forces of the Third Reich, for its stimulant effects and to induce extended wakefulness.[168][169]
Friendly everyday methyl group
From wiki:
Damn, and even sold OTC like aspirin. They must have saved a fortune on coffee! Haha. Ha.