AbstractWorking on a small scale the following two methods have given a conversion of 92‐95% into cocaine.I.To 1‐2 cm3ofn/10 ecgonine, 1 cm3of methyl alcohol and 20 cm3of benzene were added, and 10 cm3of the solvents were distilled off. To the remaining solution 0.1 cm3of methyl alcohol, 0.05 cm3of benzoyl chloride and 2 g of sodium carbonate were added and the solution heated in a closed vessel for 20 hours at 35‐40°. After the addition of 1 cm3of methyl alcohol and 10 cm3of benzene, 10 cm3of the solvents were distilled off and the remaining solution was boiled for 10 hours with 0.5 cm3of benzoyl chloride.II.To 1‐2 cm3ofn/10 ecgonine, 1 cm3of methyl alcohol, 0.15 g of benzoic acid and 20 cm3of benzene were added, and 10 cm3of the solvents distilled off. To the remaining solution of ecgonine benzoate 0.1 cm3of methyl alcohol and 0.4 g of benzoic anhydride were added. After 5‐10 days at ordinary temperature in a closed vessel 0.1 cm3of methyl alcohol, 0.05 cm3of benzoyl chloride and 2 g of sodium carbonate were added and the solution heated for 20 hours at 35‐40°.With a hydrochloric acid methyl alcohol solution and sodium carbonate, benzoyl ecgonine is partly decomposed by heating it in benzene solution at 35‐40°, giving about 25% of cocaine and about 75% of ecgonine, the benzoic acid split off being converted almost completely into