Instability of the hydrochloride salts of cathinone derivatives in air

Extended Stability Evaluation of Selected Cathinones

Understanding the stability of drugs in a forensic toxicology setting is critical for the evaluation of drug concentrations. Synthetic cathinones are new psychoactive substances structurally derived from cathinone, the psychoactive component of Catha edulis ("khat"), a shrub that is indigenous to the Middle East and East Africa. Previous research has evaluated the stability of synthetic cathinones in biological matrices, including blood preserved with the combination of NaF and K2C2O4 used in gray-top tubes. However, it does not assess their stability in blood preserved with Na2EDTA, used for some clinical samples. Further, stability in unpreserved urine samples was only studied for two weeks. This research evaluates the stabilities of four Schedule I synthetic cathinones: mephedrone, MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone), naphyrone, and α-PVP (alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone) at 20°C (room temperature), 4°C (refrigerator), and -20°C (freezer). Stability was assessed in methanolic and acetonitrile solutions, as well as in Na2EDTA-preserved blood and unpreserved urine. Solutions (1 mg/L) of each drug in each matrix stored in aliquots (100 μL, solvents; 1.2 mL, biological samples; n = 12) at each of the three temperatures for triplicate analysis on days 3, 7, 14, and 30. On day 0 of each study, three additional aliquots of each solution were analyzed. Biological samples underwent solid-phase extraction before analysis. All samples were analyzed in full-scan by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results of this study show that under room temperature and refrigerator storage conditions, mephedrone, naphyrone, and MDPV will degrade in methanol. This degradation starts are early as day 3. Additionally, all four drugs will degrade in Na2EDTA-preserved human whole blood samples in at least one evaluated storage environment. However, when in acetonitrile-based working solutions and unpreserved urine samples, they proved to be more stable. Methanolic working solutions and samples of Na2EDTA-preserved blood containing these cathinones should be stored in the freezer and used or tested with urgency to ensure that quantitative sample analysis is as accurate as possible in forensic casework.

Metabolism of α-PHP and α-PHPP in humans and the effects of alkyl chain lengths on the metabolism of α-pyrrolidinophenone-type designer drugs

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the urinary metabolites of two common α-pyrrolidinophenones (PPs), α-pyrrolidinohexiophenone (α-PHP) and α-pyrrolidinoheptanophenone (α-PHPP). This report also aims to discuss the effects of alkyl chain lengths on the metabolism of PPs.

Methods

Urinary metabolites of α-PHP and α-PHPP have been investigated by analyzing urine samples from their users (n = 13 each) by liquid chromatography–high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry using reference standards of the metabolites synthesized in our laboratory.

Results and conclusions

For both drugs, metabolites via reduction of the keto moiety (1-OH metabolites) and via oxidation of the pyrrolidine ring (2″-oxo metabolites) were identified, and those via oxidation of the terminal (ω) or penultimate (ω-1) positions of the alkyl chain were tentatively identified. Quantitative analysis indicated oxidation of the pyrrolidine ring to be the major metabolic pathway for α-PHP (side chain R: hexyl), but ω or ω-1 oxidation was the major metabolic pathway for α-PHPP (R: heptyl). Comparison of their metabolic profiles with those of analogs with a longer or shorter side chain (studied previously for R: butyl, pentyl, and octyl) revealed that the alkyl chain length strongly influences the metabolic pathway. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the quantification of metabolites of α-PHP and α-PHPP in authentic urine specimens collected from the users using their reference standards synthesized.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s11419-018-0428-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The effects and toxicity of cathinones from the users' perspectives: A qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to explore the users' perspectives regarding the effects and toxicity of cathinones.

METHODS

A systematic search of Internet discussion forums yielded 303 threads relevant to the research objectives. The threads were analysed by conventional content analysis where concepts were developed from codes and themes.

RESULTS

The study identified 3 main themes in relation to cathinone use, effects, and toxicity. The first theme considered the modalities of intake of cathinones in relation to the derivative taken (mainly mephedrone, 3-methylmethcathinone, and methylenedioxypyrovalerone), route of administration (eyeballing, insufflation, smoking, intravenous, oral, rectal, and sublingual), multidrug use, and purity of the cathinone derivative. The second theme characterised the main effects of cathinones, that is, increased energy, euphoria, and empathogenic. Toxic effects were reported regarding the nervous system (anxiety, hallucinations, nervousness, and paranoia), cardiovascular system (angina, myocardial infarction, and tachycardia), skin (discolouration, itching, and allergy), and renal system (difficulty in urination). Drug-drug interactions were also reported including multiple drug use between cathinones, stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens.

CONCLUSIONS

The Internet discussion forums provide useful sources of information regarding the effects and toxicity of cathinones, which can be taken into account when assessing the safety of drugs.

Identification of polymorphism in ethylone hydrochloride: synthesis and characterization

Ethylone, a synthetic cathinone with psychoactive properties, is a designer drug which has appeared on the recreational drug market in recent years. Since 2012, illicit shipments of ethylone hydrochloride have been intercepted with increasing frequency at the Canadian border. Analysis has revealed that ethylone hydrochloride exists as two distinct polymorphs. In addition, several minor impurities were detected in some seized exhibits. In this study, the two conformational polymorphs of ethylone hydrochloride have been synthesized and fully characterized by FTIR, FT-Raman, powder XRD, GC-MS, ESI-MS/MS and NMR ((13) C CPMAS, (1) H, (13) C). The two polymorphs can be distinguished by vibrational spectroscopy, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The FTIR data are applied to the identification of both polymorphs of ethylone hydrochloride (mixed with methylone hydrochloride) in a laboratory submission labelled as 'Ocean Snow Ultra'. The data presented in this study will assist forensic scientists in the differentiation of the two ethylone hydrochloride polymorphs. This report, alongside our recent article on the single crystal X-ray structure of a second polymorph of this synthetic cathinone, is the first to confirm polymorphism in ethylone hydrochloride. © 2015 Canada Border Services Agency. Drug Testing and Analysis published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. © 2015 Canada Border Services Agency. Drug Testing and Analysis published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.