Ephedrine is as a chiral molecule has four stereoisomers, a pair of enantiomers with the form (1R, 2S) and (1S, 2R) and a second pair with the form (1R, 2R) and (1S, 2S). The second grouping which has the same respective rotation for both chiral centers are referred to as Pseudoephedrine.
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| (1R, 2S) |
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| (1S, 2R) |
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| (1R, 2R) |
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| (1S, 2S) |
According to the FDA Ephedrine is potentially dangerous, and can behave similarly to such things as methamphetamine and epinephrine, the later being a neurotransmitter found in our nervous system and the former being a very scary psychostimulant. Ephedrine is still legal however, and can be used as a concentration aid, or even an appetite suppressor. At one time it was used as a dietary supplement to support weight lose, but the weight loss was always short term. Ephedrine is also used for recreational purposes because of is ability to help people focus and think, so it becomes one of the many study stimulants that are abused by college students or any other kind of field that requires concentration and thought.
Sources:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/DietarySupplements/ucm072997.htm
http://www.drugs.com/ephedrine.html
http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov//compound/9294?from=summary
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