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Wood MR, Bernal I, Lalancette RA. Crystal structure and analytical profile of 1,2-diphenyl-2-pyrrolidin-1-ylethanone hydrochloride or `α-D2PV': a synthetic cathinone seized by law enforcement, along with its diluent sugar, myo-inositol. Acta Crystallogr C Struct Chem 2024; 80:91-97. [PMID: 38441142 PMCID: PMC10996188 DOI: 10.1107/s2053229624000561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
A confiscated package of street drugs was characterized by the usual mass spectral (MS) and FT-IR analyses. The confiscated powder material was highly crystalline and was found to consist of two very different species, accidentally of sizes convenient for X-ray diffraction. Thus, one each was selected and redundant complete sets of data were collected at 100 K using Cu Kα radiation. The selected crystals contained: (a) 1,2-diphenyl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethanone hydrochloride hemihydrate or 1-(2-oxo-1,2-diphenylethyl)pyrrolidin-1-ium chloride hemihydrate, C18H20NO+·Cl-·0.5H2O, (I), a synthetic cathinone called `α-D2PV', and (b) the sugar myo-inositol, C6H12O6, (II), probably the only instance in which the drug and its diluent have been fully characterized from a single confiscated sample. Moreover, the structural details of both are rather attractive showing: (i) interesting hydrogen bonding observed in pairwise interactions by the drug molecules, mediated by the chloride counter-anions and the waters of crystallization, and (ii) π-π interactions in the case of the phenyl rings of the drug which are of two different types, namely, π-π stacking and edge-to-π. Finally, the inositol crystallizes with Z' = 2 and the resulting diastereoisomers were examined by overlay techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Wood
- Carl A. Olson Memorial Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, 73 Warren St., Newark, NJ 07102, USA
- Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Forensic Science Laboratory, Toms River, NJ 08753, USA
| | - Ivan Bernal
- Carl A. Olson Memorial Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, 73 Warren St., Newark, NJ 07102, USA
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Roger A. Lalancette
- Carl A. Olson Memorial Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, 73 Warren St., Newark, NJ 07102, USA
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Kuropka P, Zawadzki M, Szpot P. A review of synthetic cathinones emerging in recent years (2019-2022). Forensic Toxicol 2023; 41:25-46. [PMID: 36124107 PMCID: PMC9476408 DOI: 10.1007/s11419-022-00639-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Purpose The emergence of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) has been being a continuous and evolving problem for more than a decade. Every year, dozens of new, previously unknown drugs appear on the illegal market, posing a significant threat to the health and lives of their users. Synthetic cathinones are one of the most numerous and widespread groups among NPS. The purpose of this work was to identify and summarize available data on newly emerging cathinones in very recent years. Methods Various online databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, but also databases of government agencies including those involved in early warning systems, were used in search of reports on the identification of newly emerging synthetic cathinones. In addition, threads on various forums created by users of these drugs were searched for reports on the effects of these new substances. Results We have identified 29 synthetic cathinones that have been detected for the first time from early 2019 to mid-2022. We described their structures, known intoxication symptoms, detected concentrations in biological material in poisoning cases, as well as the countries and dates of their first appearance. Due to the lack of studies on the properties of the novel compounds, we compared data on the pharmacological profiles of the better-known synthetic cathinones with available information on the newly emerged ones. Some of these new agents already posed a threat, as the first cases of poisonings, including fatal ones, have been reported. Conclusions Most of the newly developed synthetic cathinones can be seen as analogs and replacements for once-popular compounds that have been declining in popularity as a result of legislative efforts. Although it appears that some of the newly emerging cathinones are not widely used, they may become more popular in the future and could become a significant threat to health and life. Therefore, it is important to continue developing early warning systems and identifying new compounds so that their widespread can be prevented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patryk Kuropka
- Institute of Toxicology Research, 45 Kasztanowa Street, Lower Silesia Province, 55093 Borowa, Poland
| | - Marcin Zawadzki
- grid.4495.c0000 0001 1090 049XDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 4 J. Mikulicza‑Radeckiego Street, 50345 Wroclaw, Poland ,Institute of Toxicology Research, 45 Kasztanowa Street, Lower Silesia Province, 55093 Borowa, Poland
| | - Paweł Szpot
- grid.4495.c0000 0001 1090 049XDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 4 J. Mikulicza‑Radeckiego Street, 50345 Wroclaw, Poland ,Institute of Toxicology Research, 45 Kasztanowa Street, Lower Silesia Province, 55093 Borowa, Poland
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Synthetic Cathinones: Recent Developments, Enantioselectivity Studies and Enantioseparation Methods. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27072057. [PMID: 35408456 PMCID: PMC9000803 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27072057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
New psychoactive substances represent a public health threat since they are not controlled by international conventions, are easily accessible online and are sold as a legal alternative to illicit drugs. Among them, synthetic cathinones are widely abused due to their stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. To circumvent the law, new derivatives are clandestinely synthesized and, therefore, synthetic cathinones keep emerging on the drug market, with their chemical and toxicological properties still unknown. In this review, a literature assessment about synthetic cathinones is presented focusing on the recent developments, which include more than 50 derivatives since 2014. A summary of their toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic properties are also presented. Furthermore, synthetic cathinones are chiral compounds, meaning that they can exist as two enantiomeric forms which may present different biological and toxicological activities. To analyze the enantiomers, the development of enantiomeric resolution methods for synthetic cathinones is crucial. Many methods have been reported over the years that include mostly chromatographic and electromigration techniques, with liquid chromatography using chiral stationary phases being the technique of choice. This review intended to present an overview of enantioselectivity studies and enantioseparation analysis regarding synthetic cathinones, highlighting the relevance of chirality and current trends.
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Rojkiewicz M, Kuś P, Książek M, Kusz J. Crystallographic characterization of three cathinone hydrochlorides new on the NPS market: 1-(4-methylphenyl)-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)hexan-1-one (4-MPHP), 4-methyl-1-phenyl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)pentan-1-one (α-PiHP) and 2-(methylamino)-1-(4-methylphenyl)pentan-1-one (4-MPD). Acta Crystallogr C Struct Chem 2022; 78:56-62. [PMID: 34982049 DOI: 10.1107/s2053229621013401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cathinones belong to a group of compounds of great interest in the new psychoactive substances (NPS) market. Constant changes to the chemical structure made by the producers of these compounds require a quick reaction from analytical laboratories in ascertaining their characteristics. In this article, three cathinone derivatives were characterized by X-ray crystallography. The investigated compounds were confirmed as: 1-[1-(4-methylphenyl)-1-oxohexan-2-yl]pyrrolidin-1-ium chloride (1, C17H26NO+·Cl-, the hydrochloride of 4-MPHP), 1-(4-methyl-1-oxo-1-phenylpentan-2-yl)pyrrolidin-1-ium chloride (2; C16H24NO+·Cl-, the hydrochloride of α-PiHP) and methyl[1-(4-methylphenyl)-1-oxopentan-2-yl]azanium chloride (3; C13H20NO+·Cl-, the hydrochloride of 4-MPD). All the salts crystallize in a monoclinic space group: 1 and 2 in P21/c, and 3 in P21/n. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first detailed and comprehensive crystallographic data on salts 1-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Rojkiewicz
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Silesia, 9 Szkolna Street, Katowice 40-006, Poland
| | - Piotr Kuś
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Silesia, 9 Szkolna Street, Katowice 40-006, Poland
| | - Maria Książek
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Silesia, 1 75 Pułku Piechoty Street, Chorzów 41-500, Poland
| | - Joachim Kusz
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Silesia, 1 75 Pułku Piechoty Street, Chorzów 41-500, Poland
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Matsuta S, Shima N, Kakehashi H, Ishikawa A, Asai R, Nitta A, Wada M, Nakano S, Kamata H, Nishiyama Y, Nagatani H, Imura H, Katagi M. Dehydration-fragmentation mechanism of cathinones and their metabolites in ESI-CID. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2020; 55:e4538. [PMID: 32627947 DOI: 10.1002/jms.4538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Various cathinone-derived designer drugs (CATs) have recently appeared on the drug market. This study examined the mechanism for the generation of dehydrated ions for CATs during electrospray ionization collision-induced dissociation (ESI-CID). The generation mechanism of dehydrated ions is dependent on the amine classification in the cathinone skeleton, which is used in the identification of CATs. The two hydrogen atoms eliminated during the dehydration of cathinone (primary amine) and methcathinone (secondary amine) were determined, and the reaction mechanism was elucidated through the deuterium labeling experiments. The hydrogen atom bonded to the amine nitrogen was eliminated with the proton added during ESI, in both of the tested compounds. This provided evidence that CATs with tertiary amine structures (such as dimethylcathinone and α-pyrrolidinophenones [α-PPs]) do not undergo dehydration. However, it was shown that the two major tertiary amine metabolites (1-OH and 2″-oxo) of CATs generate dehydrated ions in ESI-CID. The dehydration mechanisms of the metabolites of α-pyrrolidinobutiophenone (α-PBP) belongs to α-PPs were also investigated. Stable-isotope labeling showed the dehydration of the 1-OH metabolite following a simple mechanism where the hydroxy group was eliminated together with the proton added during ESI. In contrast, the dehydration mechanism of the 2″-oxo metabolite involved hydrogen atoms in three or more locations along with the carbonyl group oxygen, indicating that dehydration occurred via multiple mechanisms likely including the rearrangement reaction of hydrogen atoms. These findings presented herein indicate that the dehydrated ions in ESI-CID can be used for the structural identification of CATs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuntaro Matsuta
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0053, Japan
- Division of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Noriaki Shima
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0053, Japan
| | - Hidenao Kakehashi
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0053, Japan
| | - Akari Ishikawa
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0053, Japan
| | - Ryutaro Asai
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0053, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nitta
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0053, Japan
| | - Misato Wada
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0053, Japan
| | - Shihoko Nakano
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0053, Japan
| | - Hiroe Kamata
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0053, Japan
| | - Yoshio Nishiyama
- Division of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Nagatani
- Division of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Hisanori Imura
- Division of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Munehiro Katagi
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0053, Japan
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