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Du Y, Hua Z, Liu C, Lv R, Jia W, Su M. ATR-FTIR combined with machine learning for the fast non-targeted screening of new psychoactive substances. Forensic Sci Int 2023; 349:111761. [PMID: 37327724 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Due to the diversity and fast evolution of new psychoactive substances (NPS), both public health and safety are threatened around the world. Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), which serves as a simple and rapid technique for targeted NPS screening, is challenging with the rapid structural modifications of NPS. To achieve the fast non-targeted screening of NPS, six machine learning (ML) models were constructed to classify eight categories of NPS, including synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, phenethylamines, fentanyl analogues, tryptamines, phencyclidine types, benzodiazepines, and "other substances" based on the 1099 IR spectra data items of 362 types of NPS collected by one desktop ATR-FTIR and two portable FTIR spectrometers. All these six ML classification models, including k-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), extra trees (ET), voting, and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were trained through cross validation, and f1-scores of 0.87-1.00 were achieved. In addition, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was performed on 100 synthetic cannabinoids with the most complex structural variation to investigate the structure-spectral property relationship, which leads to a summary of eight synthetic cannabinoid sub-categories with different "linked groups". ML models were also constructed to classify eight synthetic cannabinoid sub-categories. For the first time, this study developed six ML models, which were suitable for both desktop and portable spectrometers, to classify eight categories of NPS and eight synthetic cannabinoids sub-categories. These models can be applied for the fast, accurate, cost-effective, and on-site non-targeted screening of newly emerging NPS with no reference data available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Du
- China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Zhendong Hua
- Key Laboratory of Drug Monitoring and Control, Drug Intelligence and Forensic Center, Ministry of Public Security, PR China; National Anti-Drug Laboratory of China, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Cuimei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Drug Monitoring and Control, Drug Intelligence and Forensic Center, Ministry of Public Security, PR China; National Anti-Drug Laboratory of China, Beijing 100193, PR China.
| | - Rulin Lv
- College of Forensic Science, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, PR China
| | - Wei Jia
- Key Laboratory of Drug Monitoring and Control, Drug Intelligence and Forensic Center, Ministry of Public Security, PR China; National Anti-Drug Laboratory of China, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Mengxiang Su
- China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, PR China.
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Feeney W, Moorthy AS, Sisco E. Spectral trends in GC-EI-MS data obtained from the SWGDRUG mass spectral library and literature: A resource for the identification of unknown compounds. Forensic Chem 2020; 31:10.1016/j.forc.2022.100459. [PMID: 36578315 PMCID: PMC9793444 DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2022.100459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Rapid identification of new or emerging psychoactive substances remains a critical challenge in forensic drug chemistry laboratories. Current analytical protocols are well-designed for confirmation of known substances yet struggle when new compounds are encountered. Many laboratories initially attempt to classify new compounds using gas chromatography-electron ionization-mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS). Though there is a large body of research focused on the analysis of illicit substances with GC-EI-MS, there is little high-level discussion of mass spectral trends for different classes of drugs. This manuscript compiles literature information and performs simple exploratory analyses on evaluated GC-EI-MS data to investigate mass spectral trends for illicit substance classes. Additionally, this work offers other important aspects: brief discussions of how each class of drugs is used; illustrations of EI mass spectra with proposed structures of commonly observed ions; and summaries of mass spectral trends that can help an analyst classify new illicit compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Feeney
- Corresponding author at: Surface and Trace Chemical Analysis Group, Material Measurement Laboratory, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA. (W. Feeney)
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Tanen JL, Lurie IS, Marginean I. Gas chromatography with dual cold electron ionization mass spectrometry and vacuum ultraviolet detection for the analysis of phenylethylamine analogues. Forensic Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2020.100281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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4
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Bijlsma L, Bade R, Been F, Celma A, Castiglioni S. Perspectives and challenges associated with the determination of new psychoactive substances in urine and wastewater - A tutorial. Anal Chim Acta 2020; 1145:132-147. [PMID: 33453874 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.08.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
New psychoactive substances (NPS), often designed as (legal) substitutes to conventional illicit drugs, are constantly emerging in the drug market and being commercialized in different ways and forms. Their use continues to cause public health problems and is therefore of major concern in many countries. Monitoring NPS use, however, is arduous and different sources of information are required to get more insight of the prevalence and diffusion of NPS use. The determination of NPS in pooled urine and wastewater has shown great potential, adding a different and complementary light on this issue. However, it also presents analytical challenges and limitations that must be taken into account such as the complexity of the matrices, the high sensitivity and selectivity required in the analytical methods as a consequence of the low analyte concentrations as well as the rapid transience of NPS on the drug market creating a scenario with constantly moving analytical targets. Analytical investigation of NPS in pooled urine and wastewater is based on liquid chromatography hyphenated to mass spectrometry and can follow different strategies: target, suspect and non-target analysis. This work aims to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different data acquisition workflows and data exploration approaches in mass spectrometry, but also pays attention to new developments such as ion mobility and the use of in-silico prediction tools to improve the identification capabilities in high-complex samples. This tutorial gives an insight into this emerging topic of current concern, and describes the experience gathered within different collaborations and projects supported by key research articles and illustrative practical examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Bijlsma
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, 12071, Castellón, Spain.
| | - R Bade
- University of South Australia, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, Health and Biomedical Innovation, South Australia, 5000, Australia.
| | - F Been
- KWR Water Research Institute, Chemical Water Quality and Health, 3430 BB, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
| | - A Celma
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, 12071, Castellón, Spain
| | - S Castiglioni
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri - IRCCS, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, 20156, Milan, Italy
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5
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Comparison of variable selection methods prior to linear discriminant analysis classification of synthetic phenethylamines and tryptamines. Forensic Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Santos A, Dutra L, Menezes L, Santos M, Barison A. Forensic NMR spectroscopy: Just a beginning of a promising partnership. Trends Analyt Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Anstett A, Chu F, Alonso DE, Smith RW. Characterization of 2C-phenethylamines using high-resolution mass spectrometry and Kendrick mass defect filters. Forensic Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2017.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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8
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Current applications of high-resolution mass spectrometry for the analysis of new psychoactive substances: a critical review. Anal Bioanal Chem 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-017-0441-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Pasin D, Cawley A, Bidny S, Fu S. Characterization of hallucinogenic phenethylamines using high-resolution mass spectrometry for non-targeted screening purposes. Drug Test Anal 2017; 9:1620-1629. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.2171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 01/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Pasin
- Centre for Forensic Science; University of Technology Sydney; Broadway NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Adam Cawley
- Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory; Racing NSW Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
| | - Sergei Bidny
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory; NSW Forensic and Analytical Science Service; Lidcombe NSW 2141 Australia
| | - Shanlin Fu
- Centre for Forensic Science; University of Technology Sydney; Broadway NSW 2007 Australia
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Shevyrin V, Kupriyanova O, Lebedev AT, Melkozerov V, Eltsov O, Shafran Y, Morzherin Y, Sadykova R. Mass spectrometric properties of N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-2-(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine (2,4,6-TMPEA-NBOMe), a new representative of designer drugs of NBOMe series and derivatives thereof. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2016; 51:969-979. [PMID: 27388323 DOI: 10.1002/jms.3808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Emergence of new psychoactive substances, hallucinogenic phenethylamines in particular, in illicit market is a serious threat to human health in global scale. We have detected and identified N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-2-(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine (2,4,6-TMPEA-NBOMe), a new compound in NBOMe series. Identification was achieved by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), including high-resolution mass spectrometry with tandem experiments (GC/HRMS and GC/HRMS2 ), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry with tandem experiments (UHPLC/HRMS and UHPLC/HRMS2 ), and 1 H and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The peculiarities of fragmentation of the compound under electron ionization (EI) and collision-induced dissociation were studied. Despite of the empirical rule denying migration of the hydrogen atom in McLafferty rearrangement to the benzene ring with substituents in the both ortho-positions, it easily occurs for 2,4,6-TMPEA-NBOMe in EI conditions. We have noticed that electron-donating substituents, e.g. methoxy groups in the both ortho-positions and para-positions favor the rearrangement. For specially synthesized N-methyl and N-acyl derivatives McLafferty rearrangement is not observed. N-Acyl derivatives demonstrate McLafferty rearrangement, but the charge retains at the alternative fragment involving N-acyl carbonyl group. We have also showed that the hydrogen atoms in 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzene ring may be easily substituted for deuterium or for strong electrophiles like trifluoroacetyl. Analytical characteristics of 2,4,6-TMPEA-NBOMe and of some derivatives thereof which enable their determination in various criminal seizures are given. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Shevyrin
- Institute of Chemistry and Technology, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., Ekaterinburg, 620002, Russia.
| | - Olga Kupriyanova
- Kazan Scientific Center, A.E. Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Arbuzov St., Kazan, 420088, Russia
| | - Albert T Lebedev
- Organic Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/3, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Vladimir Melkozerov
- Main Agency of the Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation, Sverdlovsk Region Branch, Expert and Criminalistic Center, 17 Lenina Avenue, Ekaterinburg, 620014, Russia
| | - Oleg Eltsov
- Institute of Chemistry and Technology, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., Ekaterinburg, 620002, Russia
| | - Yuri Shafran
- Institute of Chemistry and Technology, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., Ekaterinburg, 620002, Russia
| | - Yuri Morzherin
- Institute of Chemistry and Technology, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., Ekaterinburg, 620002, Russia
| | - Raziya Sadykova
- Kazan State Medical University, 49 Butlerov St., Kazan, 420012, Russia
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Westphal F, Girreser U, Waldmüller D. Analytical characterization of four newortho-methoxybenzylated amphetamine-type designer drugs. Drug Test Anal 2015; 8:910-9. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.1889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Revised: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Folker Westphal
- State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein; Section Narcotics/Toxicology; Mühlenweg 166 D-24116 Kiel Germany
| | - Ulrich Girreser
- Pharmaceutical Institute; Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel; Gutenbergstr. 76 24118 Kiel Germany
| | - Delia Waldmüller
- Center for Education and Science of the Federal Finance Administration; Laboratory Berlin; Grellstr. 18,24 10409 Berlin Germany
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Frison G, Odoardi S, Frasson S, Sciarrone R, Ortar G, Romolo FS, Strano Rossi S. Characterization of the designer drug bk-2C-B (2-amino-1-(bromo-dimethoxyphenyl)ethan-1-one) by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry without and with derivatization with 2,2,2-trichloroethyl chloroformate, liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2015; 29:1196-1204. [PMID: 26395784 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Revised: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE We describe the analytical characterization of the designer drug bk-2C-B, a cathinone derivative, contained in a seized tablet, in the absence of an analytical standard. METHODS The analytical techniques employed include gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), without and with derivatization with 2,2,2-trichloroethyl chloroformate, liquid chromatography/high-resolution-MS (LC/HRMS) with an Orbitrap® analyzer, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). LC/HRMS measurements consisted of accurate mass measurements of MH(+) ionic species under full scan conditions; comparison of experimental and calculated MH(+) isotopic patterns; examination of the isotopic fine structure (IFS) of the M+1, M+2, M+3 isotopic peaks relative to the monoisotopic M+0 peak; study of MH(+) collision-induced dissociation (CID) product ions obtained in fragmentation experiments. RESULTS GC/MS analysis gave highly informative EI mass spectra, particularly after the derivatization of bk-2C-B with 2,2,2-trichloroethyl chloroformate. The application of LC/HRMS, allowing for accurate mass measurements at 100,000 resolving power, greatly enhanced analytical capabilities in structural characterization of this new designer drug. HRMS allowed us to obtain the accurate mass measurements of bk-2C-B MH(+) ionic species, with a mass accuracy of 2.19 ppm; fully superimposable experimental and calculated MH(+) isotopic patterns, with RIA1 and RIA2 values <4%; the IFS of the M+1, M+2, M+3 isotopic peaks relative to the monoisotopic M+0 peak completely in accordance with theoretical values. These findings enabled us to obtain the elemental composition formula of the seized drug. Furthermore, characteristic MH(+) CID product ions enabled the characterization of the bk-2C-B molecular structure. The presence of (79)Br and (81)Br isotopes in the substance molecule produced a characteristic isotopic pattern in most MS spectra. Lastly, NMR spectra allowed us to obtain useful information about the position of substituents in the designer drug. CONCLUSIONS The combination of all the analytical techniques employed allowed the characterization of the seized psychoactive substance, in spite of the lack of a reference standard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giampietro Frison
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene and Forensic Toxicology, Department of Prevention, Azienda ULSS 12 Veneziana, Italy
| | - Sara Odoardi
- Institute of Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Samuela Frasson
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene and Forensic Toxicology, Department of Prevention, Azienda ULSS 12 Veneziana, Italy
| | - Rocco Sciarrone
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene and Forensic Toxicology, Department of Prevention, Azienda ULSS 12 Veneziana, Italy
| | - Giorgio Ortar
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza - Università di Roma, Italy
| | - Francesco Saverio Romolo
- Legal Medicine Section - SAPIENZA Università di Roma, Italy
- Institut de Police Scientifique, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sabina Strano Rossi
- Institute of Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
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Lum BJ, Brophy JJ, Hibbert DB. Identification of 4-substituted 2-(4-x-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]ethanamine (25X-NBOMe) and analogues by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA) derivatives. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2015.1026274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Strano Rossi S, Odoardi S, Gregori A, Peluso G, Ripani L, Ortar G, Serpelloni G, Romolo FS. An analytical approach to the forensic identification of different classes of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) in seized materials. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2014; 28:1904-1916. [PMID: 25088134 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.6969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE New psychoactive substances (NPSs) are rapidly spreading worldwide, and forensic laboratories are often requested to identify new substances for which no reference standards or analytical data are available. This article describes an analytical approach that was adopted in Italy by a few collaborative centres of the Italian Early Warning System for Drugs, which has contributed many alerts for the identification of different classes of NPSs in the last 24 months. METHODS Seized crystals and powders were initially analysed via single quadrupole gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), followed by liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC/HRMS) in the positive electrospray ionisation (ESI) mode at 100,000 full width at half maximum resolution (FWHM) without fragmentation to elucidate the elemental compositions of unknown molecules. Different fragmentation voltages during LC/HRMS were applied to study the accurate masses of the obtained characteristic fragments. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses were performed to identify specific isomers when necessary. RESULTS Some interesting examples of unknown NPSs from seizures later identified in our laboratories are reported, with special focus on those cases where analytical standards were not available during analyses. These cases include cathinones, such as 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC), methylone, bk-MBDB (butylone), 4-methylethcathinone (4-MEC), flephedrone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and pentedrone, methoxetamine, apinaca or AKB48, benzydamine, meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP), 5-MeO-N,N-dialkyl tryptamines, such as 5-MeO-DALT and 5-MeOMIPT, benzofurans, such as 6-APB and 4-APB, and diphenidine (identified for the first time in Europe). CONCLUSIONS The identification of NPSs in confiscated materials was successfully achieved via GC/MS coupled with LC/HRMS and, in a few cases, NMR analyses. The availability of GC/MS libraries is of great assistance in the identification of new drugs. Alternatively, the study of characteristic molecule fragments combined with the determination of their accurate masses can be a useful approach to identify unknown samples not previously analysed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Strano Rossi
- Institute of Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy L.go F. Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
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Uchiyama N, Shimokawa Y, Matsuda S, Kawamura M, Kikura-Hanajiri R, Goda Y. Two new synthetic cannabinoids, AM-2201 benzimidazole analog (FUBIMINA) and (4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)(1-pentyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methanone (MEPIRAPIM), and three phenethylamine derivatives, 25H-NBOMe 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl analog, 25B-NBOMe, and 2C-N-NBOMe, identified in illegal products. Forensic Toxicol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-013-0217-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Sekuła K, Zuba D. Structural elucidation and identification of a new derivative of phenethylamine using quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2013; 27:2081-2090. [PMID: 23943329 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.6667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Revised: 06/21/2013] [Accepted: 06/22/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE In recent years, the phenomenon of uncontrolled distribution of new psychoactive substances that were marketed without prior toxicological studies has been observed. Because many designer drugs are related in chemical structure, the potential for misidentifying them is an important problem. It is therefore essential to develop an analytical procedure for unequivocal elucidation of the structures of these compounds. The issue has been discussed in the context of 25I-NBMD [2-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(2,3-methylenedioxyphenyl)methyl]ethanamine], a psychoactive substance first discovered on the drug market in 2012. METHODS The substance was extracted from blotter papers with methanol. Separation was achieved via liquid chromatography. Analysis was conducted by electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOFMS). Identification of the psychoactive component was supported by electron impact gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/EI-MS). RESULTS The high accuracy of the LC/ESI-QTOFMS method allowed the molecular mass of the investigated substance (M(exp) = 441.0438 Da; mass error, ∆m = 0.2 ppm) and the formulae of ions formed during fragmentation to be determined. The main ions were recorded at m/z = 135.0440, 290.9876 and 305.9981. Structures of the obtained ions were elucidated in the tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments by comparing them to mass spectra of previously detected derivatives of phenethylamine. CONCLUSIONS The performed study indicated the potential for using LC/QTOFMS method to identify new designer drugs. This technique can be used supplementary to standard GC/MS. Prior knowledge of the fragmentation mechanisms of phenethylamines allowed to predict the mass spectra of the novel substance--25I-NBMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Sekuła
- Institute of Forensic Research, Westerplatte 9, 31033, Krakow, Poland.
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25C-NBOMe – New potent hallucinogenic substance identified on the drug market. Forensic Sci Int 2013; 227:7-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2012] [Accepted: 08/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Zuba D, Sekuła K. Analytical characterization of three hallucinogenicN-(2-methoxy)benzyl derivatives of the 2C-series of phenethylamine drugs. Drug Test Anal 2012; 5:634-45. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.1397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2012] [Revised: 07/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/03/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz Zuba
- Institute of Forensic Research; Department of Forensic Toxicology; Kraków; Poland
| | - Karolina Sekuła
- Institute of Forensic Research; Department of Forensic Toxicology; Kraków; Poland
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