A drug user responded to an ad placed by a DEA informant in a drug-culture magazine. He later flew from Colorado to Maryland, where he bought some 1-phenyl-2-propanone (P2P) from the informant. The police waited nearly a month for the suspect to synthesize something, then obtained a search warrant and searched the residence. They found the unopened bottle of P2P; apparently the suspect was not a good chemist and was unable to follow the instructions the informant gave him. They also found pipes and bongs with residues of marijuana and cocaine, plus a bottle of methylamine hydrochloride, some muriatic acid (dilute HCl), zinc strips, flasks, and other equipment.
(a) Assume you are consulting for the police. Show what synthesis the suspect was prepared to carry out, to provide probable cause for the charge of attempting to manufacture a controlled substance.
(b) Assume you are a member of the jury. Would you convict the defendant of attempting to manufacture a controlled substance?