naptha, lye, and muriatic acid are much worse when they're mixed together under huge amounts of pressure. What makes real synths so much better is that the reactions are spread out and more easily controlled with the added benefit of not having it explode in your face.
This Information on the Birch is not accurate in this thread. Both Birch and the modified Birch (s&b), are fully legit reactions. When performed by a qualified person, they are fairly safe, produce both high yields and high quality and is LESS likely to "explode". Also Remember, d-MA is d-MA after the work up.
1. Muriatic is not part of the Birch or modified-Birch. Some may use it as a HCl sourch when salting out the finished Amine.
2. Modified Birch does not produce "huge amounts of pressure. " It varies from 50-100 psi given typical rxns and is "self-limiting" meaning as pressure builds...the reaction slows.*
Caution is still necessary, but it is NOT what people/law/media make it out to be. (*50-100 grams each of anhydrous NaOH and Ammonia Nitrate in a non-polar soultion Is: a. Not a huge amount. b. Reactants are polar-soluble only, so if combined In non-polar fuel they remain solid and react relatively slow through surface contact)
Smart people use thick plastic bottles designed to withstand about double that amount such as home soda making bottles. Failures do happen...but they are quite unimpressive. No explosions. Just dribbling out with small sprays and a cat piss smell.
Bad explosions happen when people that take no time to understand whay they are doing, dump a few Ounces of water into the rv. Do not blame the Birch Reduction; blame stupid people.
3. Birch reaction (including a proper s&b) is actually fairly safe reaction, very easily controllable, and is a 100% legit reaction. In the world of Organic Chemistry NaOH, AN, Li and otc polar solvents are about as non-toxic as it gets. They are mild irritants.
HI from the rp/i or HI/P is way more toxic. Those reactions are WAY more temperamental with fires/explosions common. Toxic fumes get even worse with some procedures making HI or Methylamine.
4. Yields for Birch are both potentially higher and more consistent. Though Modified Birch is severely limited in terms of size.
