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Carlsson A, Sandgren V, Svensson S, Konradsson P, Dunne S, Josefsson M, Dahlén J. Prediction of designer drugs: Synthesis and spectroscopic analysis of synthetic cathinone analogs that may appear on the Swedish drug market. Drug Test Anal 2018; 10:1076-1098. [PMID: 29426062 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The use of hyphenated analytical techniques in forensic drug screening enables simultaneous identification of a wide range of different compounds. However, the appearance of drug seizures containing new substances, mainly new psychoactive substances (NPS), is steadily increasing. These new and other already known substances often possess structural similarities and consequently they exhibit spectral data with slight differences. This situation has made the criteria that ensure indubitable identification of compounds increasingly important. In this work, 6 new synthetic cathinones that have not yet appeared in any Swedish drug seizures were synthesized. Their chemical structures were similar to those of already known cathinone analogs of which 42 were also included in the study. Hence, a total of 48 synthetic cathinones making up sets of homologous and regioisomeric compounds were used to challenge the capabilities of various analytical techniques commonly applied in forensic drug screening, ie, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (GC-FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). Special attention was paid to the capabilities of GC-MS and GC-FTIR to distinguish between the synthetic cathinones and the results showed that neither GC-MS nor GC-FTIR alone can successfully differentiate between all synthetic cathinones. However, the 2 techniques proved to be complementary and their combined use is therefore beneficial. For example, the structural homologs were better differentiated by GC-MS, while GC-FTIR performed better for the regioisomers. Further, new spectroscopic data of the synthesized cathinone analogs is hereby presented for the forensic community. The synthetic work also showed that cathinone reference compounds can be produced in few reaction steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Carlsson
- Swedish National Forensic Centre - NFC, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Veronica Sandgren
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Stefan Svensson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Peter Konradsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Simon Dunne
- Swedish National Forensic Centre - NFC, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Martin Josefsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
- Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johan Dahlén
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
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2
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Mazur DM, Grishina GV, Lebedev AT. Molecular recognition of pseudodistamine isomeric precursors trans-3(4)-aminopiperidin-4(3)-ols by EI mass spectrometry. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2017; 140:322-326. [PMID: 28391004 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2017.03.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Synthesis of drugs, biologically active compounds or their derivatives always requires precise and reliable method of their identification, including differentiation of the possible isomers. Pseudodistamines and their precursors became a matter of elevated attention due to their different enzymatic inhibition. This paper deals with one of the groups of the pseudodistamine precursors - trans-3(4)-aminopiperidin-4(3)-ols. Their synthesis brings to a mixture of 2 regioisomers, resulting in the necessity of their reliable recognition. NMR spectroscopy commonly used by organic chemists requires advance knowledge and experience to analyse the spectra of these regioisomers. Therefore, we herein proposed a simpler way to recognize trans-3(4)-aminopiperidin-4(3)-ols using mass spectrometry with electron ionization. Fragmentation of 4 pairs of aminopiperidinol regioisomers with variation of amine moiety was studied. The obtained results allowed defining a group of 3 ions ([M-18]+., [M-19]+, [M-43]+) related only to the structure of trans-4-aminopiperidin-3-ols and 1 ion (m/z 100) related to the structure of trans-3-aminopiperidin-4-ols. Besides, interrogation of intensity of ions common for spectra of both regioisomers allows making differentiation as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Mazur
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Organic Chemistry Department, 119992 Moscow, Russia
| | - G V Grishina
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Organic Chemistry Department, 119992 Moscow, Russia
| | - A T Lebedev
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Organic Chemistry Department, 119992 Moscow, Russia.
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3
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The hydrochloride hydrates of pentylone and dibutylone and the hydrochloride salt of ephylone: the structures of three novel designer cathinones. Struct Chem 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11224-017-0951-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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4
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Kusano M, Zaitsu K, Yamanaka M, Hisatsune K, Asano T, Taki K, Hayashi Y, Tsuchihashi H, Ishii A. Development of a mass spectrometric hydroxyl-position determination method for the hydroxyindole metabolites of JWH-018 by GC-MS/MS. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2016; 51:350-357. [PMID: 27194519 DOI: 10.1002/jms.3761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
One of the many issues of designer drugs of abuse like synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) such as JWH-018 is that details on their metabolism has yet to be fully elucidated and that multiple metabolites exist. The presence of isomeric compounds poses further challenges in their identification. Our group has previously shown the effectiveness of gas chromatography-electron ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS/MS) in the mass spectrometric differentiation of the positional isomers of the naphthoylindole-type SC JWH-081, and speculated that the same approach could be used for the metabolite isomers. Using JWH-018 as a model SC, the aim of this study was to differentiate the positional isomers of its hydroxyindole metabolites by GC-MS/MS. Standard compounds of JWH-018 and its hydroxyindole metabolite positional isomers were first analyzed by GC-EI-MS in full scan mode, which was only able to differentiate the 4-hydroxyindole isomer. Further GC-MS/MS analysis was performed by selecting m/z 302 as the precursor ion. All four isomers produced characteristic product ions that enabled the differentiation between them. Using these ions, MRM analysis was performed on the urine of JWH-018 administered mice and determined the hydroxyl positions to be at the 6-position on the indole ring. GC-EI-MS/MS allowed for the regioisomeric differentiation of the hydroxyindole metabolite isomers of JWH-018. Furthermore, analysis of the fragmentation patterns suggests that the present method has high potential to be extended to hydroxyindole metabolites of other naphthoylindole type SCs in identifying the position of the hydroxyl group on the indole ring. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiko Kusano
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kei Zaitsu
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Mayumi Yamanaka
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Hisatsune
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Aichi Prefectural Police Headquarters, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tomomi Asano
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kentaro Taki
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yumi Hayashi
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Radiological and Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Tsuchihashi
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Akira Ishii
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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Kusano M, Yamanaka M, Zaitsu K, Nakayama H, Nakajima J, Moriyasu T, Tsuchihashi H, Ishii A. Regioisomeric differentiation of the alkyl-substituted synthetic cannabinoids JWH-122 and JWH-210 by GC-EI-MS/MS. Forensic Toxicol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-016-0317-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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6
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Negishi S, Nakazono Y, Iwata YT, Kanamori T, Tsujikawa K, Kuwayama K, Yamamuro T, Miyamoto K, Yamashita T, Kasuya F, Inoue H. Differentiation of regioisomeric chloroamphetamine analogs using gas chromatography-chemical ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Forensic Toxicol 2015; 33:338-347. [PMID: 26691350 PMCID: PMC4672017 DOI: 10.1007/s11419-015-0280-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, a large number of clandestinely synthesized new psychoactive substances with high structural variety have been detected in forensic samples. Analytical differentiation of regioisomers is a significant issue in forensic drug analysis, because, in most cases, legal controls are placed on only one or two of the conceivable isomers. In this study, gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) was used to differentiate the regioisomers of chloroamphetamine analogs (chloroamphetamines and chloromethamphetamines) synthesized in the authors' laboratories. Free bases, trifluoroacetyl derivatives, and trimethylsilyl derivatives were subjected to GC-MS-MS using DB-1ms, DB-5ms, and DB-17ms capillary columns, respectively. The regioisomers of chloroamphetamine analogs in all forms were well separated on the DB-5ms column. The electron ionization mass spectra of the chloroamphetamine analogs gave very little structural information for differentiation among these analogs, even after trifluoroacetyl and trimethylsilyl derivatization of the analytes. Characteristic product ions of the 2-positional isomers were observed by electron ionization-MS-MS. In contrast, chemical ionization-MS-MS of the free bases provided more structural information about chloride position on the aromatic ring when [M+H-HCl]+ was selected as a precursor ion. The results suggest that a combination of chromatographic analysis and MS-MS supports differentiation for regioisomers of chloroamphetamine analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoko Negishi
- />National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, 277-0882 Japan
- />Technopro R&D, Company, 1-15-1 Benten, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-0045 Japan
| | - Yukiko Nakazono
- />National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, 277-0882 Japan
- />Technopro R&D, Company, 1-15-1 Benten, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-0045 Japan
| | - Yuko T. Iwata
- />National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, 277-0882 Japan
| | - Tatsuyuki Kanamori
- />National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, 277-0882 Japan
| | - Kenji Tsujikawa
- />National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, 277-0882 Japan
| | - Kenji Kuwayama
- />National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, 277-0882 Japan
| | - Tadashi Yamamuro
- />National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, 277-0882 Japan
| | - Kazuna Miyamoto
- />Technopro R&D, Company, 1-15-1 Benten, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-0045 Japan
- />Biochemical Toxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobegakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586 Japan
| | - Takuya Yamashita
- />Biochemical Toxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobegakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586 Japan
| | - Fumiyo Kasuya
- />Biochemical Toxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobegakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586 Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Inoue
- />National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, 277-0882 Japan
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Gwak S, Almirall JR. Rapid screening of 35 new psychoactive substances by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and direct analysis in real time (DART) coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS). Drug Test Anal 2015; 7:884-93. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.1783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Revised: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seongshin Gwak
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and International Forensic Research Institute; Florida International University; Miami FL 33199 USA
| | - Jose R. Almirall
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and International Forensic Research Institute; Florida International University; Miami FL 33199 USA
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Kusano M, Zaitsu K, Nakayama H, Nakajima J, Hisatsune K, Moriyasu T, Matsuta S, Katagi M, Tsuchihashi H, Ishii A. Positional isomer differentiation of synthetic cannabinoid JWH-081 by GC-MS/MS. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2015; 50:586-591. [PMID: 25800195 DOI: 10.1002/jms.3565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Revised: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 12/27/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Like many new designer drugs of abuse, synthetic cannabinoids (SC) have structural or positional isomers which may or may not all be regulated under law. Differences in acute toxicity may exist between isomers which impose further burden in the fields of forensic toxicology, medicine and legislation. Isomer differentiation therefore becomes crucial from these standpoints as new designer drugs continuously emerge with just minor positional modifications to their preexisting analogs. The aim of this study was to differentiate the positional isomers of JWH-081. Purchased standard compounds of JWH-081 and its positional isomers were analyzed by gas chromatography-electron ionization-mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS) first in scan mode to investigate those isomers who could be differentiated by EI scan spectra. Isomers with identical or near-identical EI spectra were further subjected to GC-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis with appropriate precursor ions. EI scan was able to distinguish 3 of the 7 isomers: 2-methoxy, 7-methoxy and 8-methoxy. The remaining isomers exhibited near-identical spectra; hence, MS/MS was performed by selecting m/z 185 and 157 as precursor ions. 3-Methoxy and 5-methoxy isomers produced characteristic product ions that enabled the differentiation between them. Product ion spectrum of 6-methoxy isomer resembled that of JWH-081; however, the relative ion intensities were clearly different from one another. The combination of EI scan and MS/MS allowed for the regioisomeric differentiation of the targeted compounds in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiko Kusano
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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9
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Matsuta S, Katagi M, Nishioka H, Kamata H, Sasaki K, Shima N, Kamata T, Miki A, Tatsuno M, Zaitsu K, Tsuboi K, Tsuchihashi H, Suzuki K. Structural characterization of cathinone-type designer drugs by EI mass spectrometry. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.3408/jafst.19.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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10
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Mass spectrometric differentiation of the isomers of mono-methoxyethylamphetamines and mono-methoxydimethylamphetamines by GC–EI–MS–MS. Forensic Toxicol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-013-0193-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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11
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Power JD, McDermott SD, Talbot B, O'Brien JE, Kavanagh P. The analysis of amphetamine-like cathinone derivatives using positive electrospray ionization with in-source collision-induced dissociation. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2012; 26:2601-2611. [PMID: 23059876 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.6383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Amphetamine-like cathinone derivatives have become popular as recreational drugs over the past several years but their identification for forensic purposes is made difficult as they undergo extensive fragmentation under commonly used electron ionization (EI) conditions to afford ambiguous mass spectra. To overcome this, the feasibility of using positive electrospray ionization (ESI) with in-source collision-induced dissociation (CID) to produce distinguishable product ion mass spectra was examined. METHODS A set of six homologous cathinone derivatives was analyzed using an LTQ/Orbitrap™ high-resolution mass spectrometer to establish if there are any commonalities or uniqueness in their mass spectra. These compounds and a number of other cathinone derivatives were also analyzed on a single quadrupole mass spectrometer to establish the feasibility of using in-source CID for their identification in forensic drug samples. RESULTS The ESI product ion mass spectra of the [M + H](+) ions of six model compounds were found to be readily interpretable and product ion formation pathways are presented. The use of such mass spectral data in the analysis of forensic drug samples facilitated the discrimination of closely related cathinone derivatives that were difficult to distinguish using conventional gas chromatography/electron ionization mass spectrometry. A product ion mass spectral library of 22 commonly encountered cathinone derivatives was also developed. CONCLUSIONS It has been shown that the product ion ESI mass spectra of cathinone derivatives are readily interpretable and are useful for the identification of this drug group in forensic samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Power
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Garda HQ, Dublin 8, Ireland
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12
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Tsujikawa K, Mikuma T, Kuwayama K, Miyaguchi H, Kanamori T, Iwata YT, Inoue H. Identification and differentiation of methcathinone analogs by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Drug Test Anal 2012; 5:670-7. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.1437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2012] [Revised: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 10/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Tsujikawa
- National Research Institute of Police Science; 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha; Kashiwa; Chiba; 277-0882; Japan
| | - Toshiyasu Mikuma
- Forensic Science Laboratory; Chiba Prefectural Police HQ; 1-71-1, Chuo-minato, Chuo-ku; Chiba; Chiba; 260-0024; Japan
| | - Kenji Kuwayama
- National Research Institute of Police Science; 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha; Kashiwa; Chiba; 277-0882; Japan
| | - Hajime Miyaguchi
- National Research Institute of Police Science; 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha; Kashiwa; Chiba; 277-0882; Japan
| | - Tatsuyuki Kanamori
- National Research Institute of Police Science; 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha; Kashiwa; Chiba; 277-0882; Japan
| | - Yuko T. Iwata
- National Research Institute of Police Science; 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha; Kashiwa; Chiba; 277-0882; Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Inoue
- National Research Institute of Police Science; 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha; Kashiwa; Chiba; 277-0882; Japan
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Laulhé S, Bogdanov B, Johannes LM, Gutierrez O, Harrison JG, Tantillo DJ, Zhang X, Nantz MH. Fragmentation of oxime and silyl oxime ether odd-electron positive ions by the McLafferty rearrangement: new insights on structural factors that promote α,β fragmentation. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2012; 47:676-86. [PMID: 22678949 PMCID: PMC3396437 DOI: 10.1002/jms.2986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The McLafferty rearrangement is an extensively studied fragmentation reaction for the odd-electron positive ions from a diverse range of functional groups and molecules. Here, we present experimental and theoretical results of 12 model compounds that were synthesized and investigated by GC-TOF MS and density functional theory calculations. These compounds consisted of three main groups: carbonyls, oximes and silyl oxime ethers. In all electron ionization mass spectra, the fragment ions that could be attributed to the occurrence of a McLafferty rearrangement were observed. For t-butyldimethylsilyl oxime ethers with oxygen in a β-position, the McLafferty rearrangement was accompanied by loss of the t-butyl radical. The various mass spectra showed that the McLafferty rearrangement is relatively enhanced compared with other primary fragmentation reactions by the following factors: oxime versus carbonyl, oxygen versus methylene at the β-position and ketone versus aldehyde. Calculations predict that the stepwise mechanism is favored over the concerted mechanism for all but one compound. For carbonyl compounds, C-C bond breaking was the rate-determining step. However, for both the oximes and t-butyldimethylsilyl oxime ethers with oxygen at the β-position, the hydrogen transfer step was rate limiting, whereas with a CH(2) group at the β-position, the C-C bond breaking was again rate determining. n-Propoxy-acetaldehyde, bearing an oxygen atom at the β-position, is the only case that was predicted to proceed through a concerted mechanism. The synthesized oximes exist as both the (E)- and (Z)-isomers, and these were separable by GC. In the mass spectra of the two isomers, fragment ions that were generated by the McLafferty rearrangement were observed. Finally, fragment ions corresponding to the McLafferty reverse charge rearrangement were observed for all compounds at varying relative ion intensities compared with the conventional McLafferty rearrangement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Laulhé
- University of Louisville, Department of Chemistry, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Bogdan Bogdanov
- University of the Pacific, Department of Chemistry, Stockton, California 95211, USA
| | - Leah M. Johannes
- University of Louisville, Department of Chemistry, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Osvaldo Gutierrez
- University of California, Department of Chemistry, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Jason G. Harrison
- University of California, Department of Chemistry, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Dean J. Tantillo
- University of California, Department of Chemistry, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Xiang Zhang
- University of Louisville, Department of Chemistry, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Michael H. Nantz
- University of Louisville, Department of Chemistry, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
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Cross-reactivities of various phenethylamine-type designer drugs to immunoassays for amphetamines, with special attention to the evaluation of the one-step urine drug test Instant-View™, and the Emit® assays for use in drug enforcement. Forensic Sci Int 2012; 217:174-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2011] [Revised: 10/26/2011] [Accepted: 11/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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15
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Reitzel LA, Dalsgaard PW, Müller IB, Cornett C. Identification of ten new designer drugs by GC-MS, UPLC-QTOF-MS, and NMR as part of a police investigation of a Danish internet company. Drug Test Anal 2011; 4:342-54. [PMID: 22102551 DOI: 10.1002/dta.358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2011] [Revised: 07/28/2011] [Accepted: 07/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The ability of forensic laboratories to detect and identify unknown compounds is highly important since new, non-controlled designer drugs are appearing on the market with increasing frequency. In this study, the combined use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) was used for screening of new unknowns. In one large seizure from a Danish Internet company, ten different drugs were identified. Several of the compounds were seized for the first time in Denmark. The GC-MS and UPLC-QTOF-MS analyses were supplemented by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra for the structural elucidation of p-fluoroamphetamine, mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone), flephedrone (4-fluoromethcathinone), PPP (α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone), MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone), Bk-MBDB (2-methylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butan-1-one), pFBT (3-(pfluorobenzoyl)-tropane), and JWH-073 (1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indol), whereas methylone (3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone) and N-ethylcathinone matched electron impact-mass spectrometry (EI-MS) library spectra and therefore the screenings were considered sufficient. EI-MS spectra and the proposed main fragmentation patterns are presented as well as QTOF-MS exact masses and fragments and NMR chemical shifts. For the β-ketophenylethylamines (mephedrone, flephedrone, PPP, MDPV, Bk-MBDB, methylone, and N-ethylcathinone) some general fragmentation patterns observed in the EI-MS and QTOF-MS spectra are further discussed and compared to other β-ketophenylethylamines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotte A Reitzel
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Forensic Medicine, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Fragmentation Pathways of Trifluoroacetyl Derivatives of Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, and Methylenedioxyphenylalkylamine Designer Drugs by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1155/2011/318148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA), amphetamine (AM), and the methylenedioxyphenylalkylamine designer drugs, such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA), N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine (MBDB), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), and 3,4-(methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine (BDB), are widely abused as psychedelics. In this paper, these compounds were derivatized with trifluoroacetic (TFA) anhydride and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using electron ionization in positive mode. Gas chromatographic separation for TFA derivatives of all compounds was successfully resolved using an Equity-5 fused silica capillary column with a poly (5% diphenyl-95% dimethylsiloxane) stationary phase. Base peaks or prominent peaks of MA, AM, MDMA, MDEA, MBDB, MDA, and BDB appeared at m/z 154, 140, 154, 168, 168, 135, and 135, respectively. These occurred due to α-cleavage from the amide nitrogen, splitting into the TFA imine species and benzyl or methylenedioxybenzyl cations. Further prominent fragment ions at m/z 118 for MA and AM, m/z 162 for MDMA, MDEA, and MDA, and m/z 176 for MBDB and BDB were produced by cleavage of the phenylpropane or methylenedioxypropane hydrocarbon radical cation via a hydrogen rearrangement. These fragmentation pathways for the TFA derivatives of all the compounds are summarized and illustrated in this paper.
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Kelly JP. Cathinone derivatives: A review of their chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology. Drug Test Anal 2011; 3:439-53. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 240] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2010] [Revised: 05/19/2011] [Accepted: 05/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Russell M, Bogun B. New “party pill” components in New Zealand: The synthesis and analysis of some β-ketone analogues of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) including βk-DMBDB (β-ketone-N,N-dimethyl-1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine). Forensic Sci Int 2011; 210:174-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2010] [Revised: 02/15/2011] [Accepted: 03/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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19
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Recently abused β-keto derivatives of 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylalkylamines: a review of their metabolisms and toxicological analysis. Forensic Toxicol 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-011-0111-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Abstract
Since the late 1990s the illicit drug market has undergone considerable change: along with the traditional drugs of abuse that still dominate, more than 100 psychotropic substances designed to bypass controlled substances legislation have appeared and led to intoxications and fatalities. Starting from the huge class of phenylalkylamines, containing many subgroups, the spectrum of structures has grown from tryptamines, piperazines, phenylcyclohexyl derivates and pyrrolidinophenones to synthetic cannabinoids and the first synthetic cocaine. Due to the small prevalence and high number of unknown substances, the detection of new designer drugs is a challenge for clinical and forensic toxicologists. Standard screening procedures might fail because a recently discovered or yet unknown substance has not been incorporated in the library used. Nevertheless, many metabolism studies, case reports, screening methods and substance-profiling papers concentrating on single compounds have been published. This review provides an overview of the developed bioanalytical and analytical methods, the matrices used, sample-preparation procedures, concentration of analytes in case of intoxication and also gives a résumé of immunoassay experiences. Additionally, six screening methods for biological matrices with a larger spectrum of analytes are described in more detail.
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21
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Colorimetric detection and chromatographic analyses of designer drugs in biological materials: a comprehensive review. Forensic Toxicol 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-010-0107-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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Brandt SD, Freeman S, Sumnall HR, Measham F, Cole J. Analysis of NRG 'legal highs' in the UK: identification and formation of novel cathinones. Drug Test Anal 2010; 3:569-75. [PMID: 21960541 DOI: 10.1002/dta.204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2010] [Revised: 09/02/2010] [Accepted: 09/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
A large number of cathinone derivatives have shown a wide range of bioactive properties, attracting great interest from communities associated with pharmaceutical research. Some of these derivatives have gained popularity as so-called recreational 'legal highs' due to their availability on the Internet and high street shops. A previous study described the qualitative analysis of 24 'legal high' Energy-1 (NRG-1) and NRG-2 products obtained from 18 websites following the ban on mephedrone and derivatives in April 2010. The majority of these products contained a mixture of cathinones just carrying a new label. Here, three additional cathinone products have been detected; two from an NRG-1 sample and one from an NRG-3 sample. This report describes their identification. NRG-1 sample 1 consisted of a mixture of 4 cathinones namely 4-fluoromethcathinone (1), 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-(methylamino)pentan-1-one (pentylone, 2), 3,4-methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinobutyrophenone (MDPBP, 3) and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV, 4). The sample labelled as NRG-3 (mislabelled with the chemical structure of mephedrone) consisted of a mixture of 4-methyl-α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone (MPPP, 5) and (2), whereas the remaining NRG-1 sample 2 (also mislabelled with the chemical structure of mephedrone) consisted of a mixture of (2) and (3). Qualitative analyses were carried out by GC-(EI/CI)-MS, NMR spectroscopy and confirmation by preparation of standards. The preparation of brominated precursors carrying the 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl nucleus revealed extensive α,α-dibromination: the mass spectral and NMR data of these intermediates are also presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, UK.
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Kikuchi H, Uchiyama N, Ogata J, Kikura-Hanajiri R, Goda Y. Chemical constituents and DNA sequence analysis of a psychotropic herbal product. Forensic Toxicol 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-010-0091-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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24
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Zaitsu K, Katagi M, Kamata H, Nakanishi K, Shima N, Kamata T, Nishioka H, Miki A, Tatsuno M, Tsuchihashi H. Simultaneous analysis of six novel hallucinogenic (tetrahydrobenzodifuranyl)aminoalkanes (FLYs) and (benzodifuranyl)aminoalkanes (DragonFLYs) by GC-MS, LC-MS, and LC-MS-MS. Forensic Toxicol 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-009-0083-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Zaitsu K, Katagi M, Kamata HT, Kamata T, Shima N, Miki A, Tsuchihashi H, Mori Y. Determination of the metabolites of the new designer drugs bk-MBDB and bk-MDEA in human urine. Forensic Sci Int 2009; 188:131-9. [PMID: 19406592 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2008] [Revised: 03/30/2009] [Accepted: 04/01/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This is the first report on identifying the specific metabolites of the new designer drugs 2-methylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butan-1-one (bk-MBDB) and 2-ethylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)propan-1-one (bk-MDEA) in human urine using synthesized standards. Based on GC/MS and LC/MS, we identified N-dealkylation, demethylenation followed by O-methylation, and beta-ketone reduction as their major metabolic pathways. The quantitative analyses by LC/MS revealed that both demethylenation followed by O-methylation and beta-ketone reduction were superior to N-dealkylation and that both bk-MBDB and bk-MDEA were mainly metabolized into their corresponding 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy metabolites (4-OH-3MeO metabolites). After hydrolysis, the concentrations of 4-OH-3MeO metabolites and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy metabolites of both bk-MBDB and bk-MDEA dramatically increased, suggesting that the metabolites mainly exist as their conjugates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Zaitsu
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18, Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0053, Japan.
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Shima N, Katagi M, Tsuchihashi H. Direct Analysis of Conjugate Metabolites of Methamphetamine, 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and Their Designer Drugs in Biological Fluids. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1248/jhs.55.495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Noriaki Shima
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters
| | - Munehiro Katagi
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters
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