Structure Assignment of Seized Products Containing Cathinone Derivatives Using High Resolution Analytical Techniques

Abstract

The innovation of the new psychoactive substances (NPS) market requires the rapid identification of new substances that can be a risk to public health, in order to reduce the damage from their use. Twelve seized products suspected to contain illicit substances were analyzed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Synthetic cathinones (SCat) were found in all products, either as a single component or in mixtures. Infrared spectra of all products were consistent with the molecular structure of SCat, showing an intense absorption band at 1700–1674 cm−1, corresponding to the carbonyl stretching, a medium/strong peak at 1605–1580 cm−1, indicating stretching vibrations in the aromatic ring (C=C) and bands with relative low intensity at frequencies near 2700–2400 cm−1, corresponding to an amine salt. It was possible to identify a total of eight cathinone derivatives by GC-MS and NMR analysis: 4’-methyl-α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (MPHP), α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (α-PHP), 3-fluoromethcathinone (3-FMC), methedrone, methylone, buphedrone, N-ethylcathinone, and pentedrone. Among the adulterants found in these samples, caffeine was the most frequently detected substance, followed by ethylphenidate. These results highlight the prevalence of SCat in seized materials of the Portuguese market. Reference standards are usually required for confirmation, but when reference materials are not available, the combination of complementary techniques is fundamental for a rapid and an unequivocal identification of such substances.

Forensic applications of high‐resolution NMR spectroscopy in the identification of novel psychoactive substances and the quantitation of methamphetamine

“…Substituted cathinones are a commonly encountered class of designer drugs, known colloquially as “bath salts.” Numerous synthetic cathinones with varied substituents have been encountered in drug evidence, and closely related compounds can be challenging to distinguish without NMR data. [ 4–7 ] The USPIS‐NFL did not have a laboratory standard for either of these substituted cathinones (Figure 1).…”

A simple, quick and non-destructive approach for sampling drugs of abuse in tablets and blotter for qualitative analysis by paper spray mass spectrometry

“…[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Approaches based on attenuated total reectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and nearinfrared (NIR) spectroscopy allow the direct analysis of blotter paper/seals and require the maceration of samples presented as tablets/pills. [15][16][17] Methodologies based on ambient mass spectrometry ionization, such as DART-MS, DESI-MS, and EASI-MS, may have already been used both for direct analysis and for analysis aer solvent analyte extraction. [18][19][20][21][22][23] Paper spray (PS) is an ambient ionization technique that allows the fast, qualitative and quantitative analysis of complex mixtures by MS. 24,25 In this technique, pneumatic assistance is not required to transport the analyte.…”

“…8–14 Approaches based on attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy allow the direct analysis of blotter paper/seals and require the maceration of samples presented as tablets/pills. 15–17 Methodologies based on ambient mass spectrometry ionization, such as DART-MS, DESI-MS, and EASI-MS, may have already been used both for direct analysis and for analysis after solvent analyte extraction. 18–23…”