The ring structure serves as the central part, while three other molecular parts complete the compound.

To synthesize fentanyl, chemical compounds called precursors are essential building blocks. The core precursors are made up of the piperidine ring and one or more of the other molecular groups.

Piperidine ring

Core precursor

1-2 other groups

Precursors

Because precursors serve as shortcuts to making fentanyl, governments have clamped down on some of these chemical compounds.

'Designer' precursors

That’s why illicit fentanyl makers sometimes source slightly altered versions of precursors to get around these regulations, for instance replacing a hydrogen atom with a fluorine atom.

Pre-precursors

Another trick is to move one step back in the synthesis process and use so-called pre-precursors: chemicals that contain the piperidine ring and can be used to build the precursor. These pre-precursors are easier to get because they have many legitimate uses.

The ring structure serves as the central part, while three other molecular parts complete the compound.

To synthesize fentanyl, chemical compounds called precursors are essential building blocks. The core precursors are made up of the piperidine ring and one or more of the other molecular groups.

Core precursor

Piperidine ring

1-2 other groups

Precursors

Because precursors serve as shortcuts to making fentanyl, governments have clamped down on some of these chemical compounds.

'Designer' precursors

That’s why illicit fentanyl makers sometimes source slightly altered versions of precursors to get around these regulations, for instance replacing a hydrogen atom with a fluorine atom.

Pre-precursors

Another trick is to move one step back in the synthesis process and use so-called pre-precursors: chemicals that contain the piperidine ring and can be used to build the precursor. These pre-precursors are easier to get because they have many legitimate uses.

To synthesize fentanyl, chemical compounds called precursors are essential building blocks. The core precursors are made up of the piperidine ring and one or more of the other molecular groups.

The piperidine ring is the core, while three other molecular groups complete the structure.

Core precursor

Piperidine ring

1-2 other groups

'Designer' precursors

Pre-precursors

Precursors

That’s why illicit fentanyl makers sometimes source slightly altered versions of precursors to get around these regulations, for instance replacing a hydrogen atom with a fluorine atom.

Another trick is to move one step back in the synthesis process and use so-called pre-precursors: chemicals that contain the piperidine ring and can be used to build the precursor. These pre-precursors are easier to get because they have many legitimate uses.

Because precursors serve as shortcuts to making fentanyl, governments have clamped down on some of these chemical compounds.

The piperidine ring is the core, while three other molecular groups complete the structure.

To synthesize fentanyl, chemical compounds called precursors are essential building blocks. The core precursors are made up of the piperidine ring and one or more of the other molecular groups.

Core precursor

Piperidine ring

1-2 other groups

Precursors

'Designer' precursors

Pre-precursors

Because precursors serve as shortcuts to making fentanyl, governments have clamped down on some of these chemical compounds.

That’s why illicit fentanyl makers sometimes source slightly altered versions of precursors to get around these regulations, for instance replacing a hydrogen atom with a fluorine atom.

Another trick is to move one step back in the synthesis process and use so-called pre-precursors: chemicals that contain the piperidine ring and can be used to build the precursor. These pre-precursors are easier to get because they have many legitimate uses.