 In 1975, the related alkaloid cathinone was isolated, and its absolute configuration was established in 1978.Cathinone is not very stable and breaks down to produce cathine and norephedrine.These chemicals belong to the PPA (phenylpropanolamine) family, a subset of the phenethylamines related to amphetamines and the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine.