1
|
Couto RAS, Gonçalves LM, Carvalho F, Rodrigues JA, Rodrigues CMP, Quinaz MB. The Analytical Challenge in the Determination of Cathinones, Key-Players in the Worldwide Phenomenon of Novel Psychoactive Substances. Crit Rev Anal Chem 2018; 48:372-390. [DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2018.1439724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rosa A. S. Couto
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Moreira Gonçalves
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Félix Carvalho
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - José A. Rodrigues
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Cecília M. P. Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M. Beatriz Quinaz
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Heather E, Bortz A, Shimmon R, McDonagh AM. Organic impurity profiling of methylone and intermediate compounds synthesized from catechol. Drug Test Anal 2016; 9:436-445. [PMID: 27886663 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This work examined the synthesis and organic impurity profile of methylone prepared from catechol. The primary aim of this work was to determine whether the synthetic pathway used to prepare 3,4-methylenedioxypropiophenone could be ascertained through analysis of the synthesized methylone. The secondary aim was the structural elucidation and origin determination of the organic impurities detected in methylone and the intermediate compounds. The organic impurities present in the reaction products were identified using GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy. Six organic impurities were detected in 1,3-benzodioxole and identified as the 1,3-benzodioxole dimer, 1,3-benzodioxole trimer, [1,3] dioxolo[4,5-b]oxanthrene, 4,4'-, 4,5'-, and 5,5'-methylenebis-1,3-benzodioxole. Six organic impurities were detected in 3,4-methylenedioxypropiophenone and identified as (2-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate, [2-(chloromethoxy) phenyl] propanoate, (2-propanoyloxyphenyl)propanoate, 5-[1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)prop-1-enyl]-1,3-benzodioxole, (5E)- and (5Z)-7-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-5-ethylidene-6-methyl-cyclopenta[f][1,3]benzodioxole). Exploratory synthetic experiments were also conducted to unambiguously identify the organic impurities detected in 3,4-methylenedioxypropiophenone. Two organic impurities were detected in 5-bromo-3,4-methylenedioxypropiophenone and identified as [2-(chloromethoxy)phenyl] propanoate and 3,4-methylenedioxypropiophenone. Five organic impurities were detected in methylone and identified as 3,4-methylenedioxypropiophenone, 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-N-methyl-propan-1-imine, 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-methylimino-propan-1-one, 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-N1,N2-dimethyl-propane-1,2-diimine and butylated hydroxytoluene. The origin of these organic impurities was also ascertained, providing valuable insight into the chemical profiles of methylone and the intermediate compounds. However, neither the catechol precursor nor the 1,3-benzodioxole intermediate could be identified based on the organic impurities detected in the synthesized methylone using standard techniques. This demonstrated that the organic impurity profiling of methylone had limitations in the determination of precursor chemical and synthetic pathways used. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin Heather
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Adam Bortz
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Ronald Shimmon
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Andrew M McDonagh
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
McLaughlin G, Morris N, Kavanagh PV, Power JD, Dowling G, Twamley B, O'Brien J, Talbot B, Walther D, Partilla JS, Baumann MH, Brandt SD. Synthesis, characterization and monoamine transporter activity of the new psychoactive substance mexedrone and its N-methoxy positional isomer, N-methoxymephedrone. Drug Test Anal 2016; 9:358-368. [PMID: 27524685 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
3-Methoxy-2-(methylamino)-1-(4-methylphenyl)propan-1-one (mexedrone) appeared in 2015 and was advertised by UK Internet retailers as a non-controlled mephedrone derivative (2-(methylamino)-1-(4-methylphenyl)propan-1-one), which was of particular interest to countries who operate generic drugs legislation. This study describes the synthesis and analytical characterization of mexedrone and the differentiation from its isomer, N-methoxymephedrone, which was predicted to be a suitable candidate before the identity of mexedrone was revealed. A full analytical characterization is described using various chromatographic, spectroscopic and mass spectrometric platforms and X-ray crystal structure analysis. The analytical data obtained for a vendor sample were consistent with the synthesized mexedrone reference standard and analytical differentiation between the mexedrone and N-methoxymephedrone positional isomers was achieved. Furthermore, α-chloromethylmephedrone was identified as a by-product during mexedrone synthesis. All three substances were also studied for their uptake and releasing properties at dopamine transporters (DAT), norepinephrine transporters (NET) and serotonin transporters (SERT) using in vitro monoamine transporter assays in rat brain synaptosomes and compared to mephedrone. Mexedrone was a weak non-selective uptake blocker with IC50 values in the low μM range. It was also devoid of releasing activity at DAT and NET but displayed weak releasing activity at SERT (EC50 = 2.5 μM). The isomer N-methoxymephedrone was found to be a weak uptake blocker at DAT, NET and SERT, as well as a fully efficacious substrate-type releasing agent across all three transporters with EC50 values in the low micromolar range. The synthesis by-product α-chloromethylmephedrone was inactive in all assays. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gavin McLaughlin
- Department of Life and Physical Sciences, School of Science, Athlone Institute of Technology, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Ireland.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Noreen Morris
- Department of Life and Physical Sciences, School of Science, Athlone Institute of Technology, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Ireland
| | - Pierce V Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - John D Power
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.,Forensic Science Ireland, Garda HQ, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Geraldine Dowling
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Brendan Twamley
- School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - John O'Brien
- School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Brian Talbot
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Donna Walther
- Designer Drug Research Unit of the Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John S Partilla
- Designer Drug Research Unit of the Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michael H Baumann
- Designer Drug Research Unit of the Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| |
Collapse
|