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Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Gare S, Stratford A, Halberstadt AL. Analytical and behavioral characterization of 1-hexanoyl-LSD (1H-LSD). Drug Test Anal 2024. [PMID: 38965834 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3767] [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: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
The development of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) derivatives and analogs continues to inform the design of novel receptor probes and potentially new medicines. On the other hand, a number of newly developed LSD derivatives have also emerged as recreational drugs, leading to reports of their detection in some countries. One position in the ergoline scaffold of LSD that is frequently targeted is the N1-position; numerous N1-alkylcarbonyl LSD derivatives have been reported where the acyl chain is attached to the indole nitrogen, for example, in the form of linear n-alkane substituents, which represent higher homologs of the prototypical 1-acetyl-N,N-diethyllysergamide (1A-LSD, ALD-52). In this study, 1-hexanoyl-LSD (1H-LSD, SYN-L-027), a novel N1-acyl LSD derivative, was characterized analytically using standard techniques, followed by evaluation of its in vivo behavioral effects using the mouse head-twitch response (HTR) assay in C57BL/6J mice. 1H-LSD induced the HTR, with a median effective dose (ED50) of 192.4 μg/kg (equivalent to 387 nmol/kg), making it roughly equipotent to ALD-52 when tested previously under similar conditions. Similar to other N1-acylated analogs, 1H-LSD is anticipated to by hydrolyzed to LSD in vivo and acts as a prodrug. It is currently unknown whether 1H-LSD has appeared as on the research chemical market or is being used recreationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pierce V Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sarah Gare
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Adam L Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, Southern California, USA
- Center for Psychedelic Research, University of California San Diego, San Diego, Southern California, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, Southern California, USA
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2
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Shoda T, Tsuji G, Kawamura M, Kurohara T, Misawa T, Kikura-Hanajiri R, Demizu Y. Structural analysis of an lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) analogue N-methyl-N-isopropyllysergamide (MiPLA): Insights from Rotamers in NMR spectra. Drug Test Anal 2024; 16:588-594. [PMID: 37830386 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a hallucinogenic compound that binds to and activates the serotonin 2A receptor and is classified as a controlled narcotic in Japan. Recently, MiPLA, an N-methyl-N-isopropyl derivative of LSD, has been detected in paper-sheet products in several countries. This study focuses on the synthesis of MiPLA and includes a comprehensive analysis involving structural and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Particularly, MiPLA was synthesized in three-steps starting from ergometrine maleate, which resulted in the formation of (8S)-isomer, iso-MiPLA, as a by-product. The LC-MS results showed that LSD, MiPLA, and iso-MiPLA exhibited different retention times. Their chemical structures were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which revealed the presence of rotamers involving the N-methyl-N-isopropyl groups of tertiary amides in MiPLA and iso-MiPLA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuji Shoda
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Genichiro Tsuji
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Maiko Kawamura
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Narcotics, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Takashi Kurohara
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Takashi Misawa
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Ruri Kikura-Hanajiri
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Narcotics, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Yosuke Demizu
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
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3
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Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, Pulver B, Elliott SP, Stratford A, Halberstadt AL, Brandt SD. Analytical and behavioral characterization of 1-dodecanoyl-LSD (1DD-LSD). Drug Test Anal 2024. [PMID: 38569566 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3691] [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: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
1-Acetyl-N,N-diethyllysergamide (1A-LSD, ALD-52) was first synthesized in the 1950s and found to produce psychedelic effects similar to those of LSD. Evidence suggests that ALD-52 serves as a prodrug in vivo and hydrolysis to LSD is likely responsible for its activity. Extension of the N1-alkylcarbonyl chain gives rise to novel lysergamides, which spurred further investigations into their structure-activity relationships. At the same time, ALD-52 and numerous homologues have emerged as recreational drugs ("research chemicals") that are available from online vendors. In the present study, 1-dodecanoyl-LSD (1DD-LSD), a novel N1-acylated LSD derivative, was subjected to analytical characterization and was also tested in the mouse head-twitch response (HTR) assay to assess whether it produces LSD-like effects in vivo. When tested in C57BL/6J mice, 1DD-LSD induced the HTR with a median effective dose (ED50) of 2.17 mg/kg, which was equivalent to 3.60 μmol/kg. Under similar experimental conditions, LSD has 27-fold higher potency than 1DD-LSD in the HTR assay. Previous work has shown that other homologues such as ALD-52 and 1-propanoyl-LSD also have considerably higher potency than 1DD-LSD in mice, which suggests that hydrolysis of the 1-dodecanoyl moiety may be comparatively less efficient in vivo. Further investigations are warranted to determine whether the increased lipophilicity of 1DD-LSD causes it to be sequestered in fat, thereby reducing its exposure to enzymatic hydrolysis in plasma and tissues. Further clinical studies are also required to assess its activity in humans and to test the prediction that it could potentially serve as a long-acting prodrug for LSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierce V Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Folker Westphal
- State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Section Narcotics/Toxicology, Kiel, Germany
| | - Benedikt Pulver
- State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Section Narcotics/Toxicology, Kiel, Germany
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon P Elliott
- Elliott Forensic Consulting, Birmingham, UK
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Adam L Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
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4
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Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, Pulver B, Schwelm HM, Stratford A, Auwärter V, Chapman SJ, Halberstadt AL, Brandt SD. Analytical profile of the lysergamide 1cP-AL-LAD and detection of impurities. Drug Test Anal 2023; 15:277-291. [PMID: 36321499 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3397] [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: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The development of novel lysergamides continues to occur, based on both the needs of psychedelic medicine and commercial interest in new recreational substances. The present study continues the authors' research on novel lysergamides and describes the analytical profile of 1-cyclopropanoyl-AL-LAD (IUPAC name: 1-(cyclopropanecarbonyl)-N,N-diethyl-6-(prop-2-en-1-yl)-9,10-didehydroergoline-8β-carboxamide; 1cP-AL-LAD), using various chromatographic, mass spectrometric, and spectroscopic methods. Analysis of a powdered sample of 1cP-AL-LAD, obtained from an online vendor, by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in full scan/AutoMS/MS mode revealed the detection of 17 impurities based on high-resolution tandem mass spectral data; tentative determination of their identity was based on mass spectral grounds alone, though detection of AL-LAD and 1P-AL-LAD was confirmed using available reference standards. Other tentative compound identifications included 1-acetyl-AL-LAD and several other substances potentially reflecting oxidation of the N6 -allyl group as well as other positions on the ergoline ring system. These data may assist those interested in the chemistry of lysergamides. Finally, 1cP-AL-LAD was also detected in samples of "blotters" sold online for recreational use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierce V Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Folker Westphal
- Section Narcotics/Toxicology, State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Benedikt Pulver
- Section Narcotics/Toxicology, State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.,Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Hermann Staudinger Graduate School, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hannes M Schwelm
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Hermann Staudinger Graduate School, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Volker Auwärter
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Adam L Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
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Gallart-Mateu D, Béjar-Grimalt J, Esteve-Turrillas F, Armenta S, Garrigues S, de la Guardia M. A synergetic approach based on infrared spectroscopy and ion mobility spectrometry for the analysis of seized blotters: Boosting performance. Microchem J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2022.107810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Castaing-Cordier T, Benavides Restrepo A, Dubois D, Ladroue V, Besacier F, Buleté A, Charvoz C, Goupille A, Jacquemin D, Giraudeau P, Farjon J. Characterization of new psychoactive substances by integrating benchtop NMR to multi-technique databases. Drug Test Anal 2022; 14:1629-1638. [PMID: 35687356 PMCID: PMC9545896 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
New psychoactive substances (NPS) have become a serious threat for public health due to their ability to be sold in the street or on internet. NPS are either derived from commercial drugs which are misused (recreational rather than medical use) or whose structure is slightly modified. To regulate NPS, it is essential to accurately characterize them, either to recognize molecules that were previously identified or to quickly elucidate the structure of unknown ones. Most approaches rely on the determination of the exact mass obtained by high‐resolution mass spectrometry requiring expensive equipment. This motivated us to develop a workflow in which the elucidation is assisted with databases and does not need the exact mass. This workflow combines 1D and 2D NMR measurements performed on a benchtop spectrometer with IR spectroscopy, for creating a multi‐technique database to characterize pure and mixed NPS. The experimental database was created with 57 entries mostly coming from seizures, mainly cathinones, cannabinoids, amphetamines, arylcyclohexylamines, and fentanyl. A blind validation of the workflow was carried out on a set of six unknown seizures. In the first three cases, AF, AB‐FUBINACA, and a mixture of 2C‐I and 2C‐E could be straightforwardly identified with the help of their reference spectra in the database. The two next samples were elucidated for the first time with the help of the database to reveal NEK and MPHP substances. Finally, a precise quantification of each characterized NPS was obtained in order to track NPS trafficking networks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Damien Dubois
- Laboratoire de Police Scientifique de Lyon, Service National de Police Scientifique, Ecully, France
| | - Virginie Ladroue
- Laboratoire de Police Scientifique de Lyon, Service National de Police Scientifique, Ecully, France
| | - Fabrice Besacier
- Sous-direction de la stratégie de l'innovation et du pilotage, Service National de Police Scientifique, Ecully, France
| | - Audrey Buleté
- Laboratoire de Police Scientifique de Lyon, Service National de Police Scientifique, Ecully, France
| | - Céline Charvoz
- Laboratoire de Police Scientifique de Lyon, Service National de Police Scientifique, Ecully, France
| | - Anais Goupille
- Nantes Université, CNRS, CEISAM, UMR 6230, Nantes, France
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Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, Pulver B, Morton K, Stratford A, Dowling G, Halberstadt AL. Return of the lysergamides. Part VII: Analytical and behavioural characterization of 1-valeroyl-d-lysergic acid diethylamide (1V-LSD). Drug Test Anal 2022; 14:733-740. [PMID: 34837347 PMCID: PMC9191648 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The psychopharmacological properties of the psychedelic drug lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) have attracted the interest of several generations of scientists. While further explorations involving novel LSD-type compounds are needed to assess their potential as medicinal drugs, the emergence of novel derivatives as recreational drugs has also been observed. 1-Valeroyl-LSD (also known as 1-valeryl-LSD, 1-pentanoyl-LSD, 1V-LSD, or "Valerie") is a new N1 -acylated LSD derivative that recently appeared on the online market, and it could be viewed as a higher homolog of ALD-52, 1P-LSD, and 1B-LSD. The present study included the analytical characterization and involved various methods of mass spectrometry (MS), gas and liquid chromatography (GC and LC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, GC-solid-state infrared (GC-sIR) analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. The in vivo activity of 1V-LSD was assessed using the mouse head-twitch response (HTR), a 5-HT2A -mediated head movement that serves as a behavioral proxy in rodents for human hallucinogenic effects. Similar to LSD and other psychedelic drugs, the HTR induced by 1V-LSD was dose dependent, and the median effective dose for 1V-LSD was 373 nmol/kg, which was about a third of the potency of LSD (ED50 = 132.8 nmol/kg). Lysergamides containing the N1 -substituent typically act as weak partial agonists at the 5-HT2A receptor and are believed to serve as prodrugs for LSD. 1V-LSD is also likely to be hydrolyzed to LSD and serve as a prodrug, but studies to assess the biotransformation and receptor pharmacology of 1V-LSD should be performed to fully elucidate its mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D. Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pierce V. Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Folker Westphal
- Section Narcotics/Toxicology, State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Benedikt Pulver
- Section Narcotics/Toxicology, State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Kathleen Morton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Geraldine Dowling
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland,Department of Life Sciences, School of Science, Sligo Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland
| | - Adam L. Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
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Vilca-Melendez S, Uthaug MV, Griffin JL. 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: A Future Approach to the Metabolic Profiling of Psychedelics in Human Biofluids? Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:742856. [PMID: 34966300 PMCID: PMC8710695 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.742856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
While psychedelics may have therapeutic potential for treating mental health disorders such as depression, further research is needed to better understand their biological effects and mechanisms of action when considering the development of future novel therapy approaches. Psychedelic research could potentially benefit from the integration of metabonomics by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy which is an analytical chemistry-based approach that can measure the breakdown of drugs into their metabolites and their metabolic consequences from various biofluids. We have performed a systematic review with the primary aim of exploring published literature where 1H NMR analysed psychedelic substances including psilocin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), LSD derivatives, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) and bufotenin. The second aim was to assess the benefits and limitations of 1H NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomics as a tool in psychedelic research and the final aim was to explore potential future directions. We found that the most current use of 1H NMR in psychedelic research has been for the structural elucidation and analytical characterisation of psychedelic molecules and that no papers used 1H NMR in the metabolic profiling of biofluids, thus exposing a current research gap and the underuse of 1H NMR. The efficacy of 1H NMR spectroscopy was also compared to mass spectrometry, where both metabonomics techniques have previously shown to be appropriate for biofluid analysis in other applications. Additionally, potential future directions for psychedelic research were identified as real-time NMR, in vivo 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and 1H NMR studies of the gut microbiome. Further psychedelic studies need to be conducted that incorporate the use of 1H NMR spectroscopy in the analysis of metabolites both in the peripheral biofluids and in vivo to determine whether it will be an effective future approach for clinical and naturalistic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvana Vilca-Melendez
- Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Malin V. Uthaug
- The Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Julian L. Griffin
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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A deep generative model enables automated structure elucidation of novel psychoactive substances. NAT MACH INTELL 2021. [DOI: 10.1038/s42256-021-00407-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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10
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Identification and Analytical Characterization of a Novel Synthetic Cannabinoid-Type Substance in Herbal Material in Europe. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26040793. [PMID: 33546439 PMCID: PMC7913736 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26040793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid diffusion of new psychoactive substances (NPS) presents unprecedented challenges to both customs authorities and analytical laboratories involved in their detection and characterization. In this study an analytical approach to the identification and structural elucidation of a novel synthetic cannabimimetic, quinolin-8-yl-3-[(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl) sulfonyl]-4-methylbenzoate (2F-QMPSB), detected in seized herbal material, is detailed. An acid precursor 4-methyl-3-(4,4-difluoro-1-piperidinylsulfonyl) benzoic acid (2F-MPSBA), has also been identified in the same seized material. After extraction from the herbal material the synthetic cannabimimetic, also referred to as synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists or “synthetic cannabinoids”, was characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 1H, 13C, 19F and 15N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HR-MS/MS) combined with chromatographic separation. A cheminformatics platform was used to manage and interpret the analytical data from these techniques.
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Meira VL, de Oliveira AS, Cohen LSA, de A Bhering C, de Oliveira KM, de Siqueira DS, de Oliveira MAM, Aquino Neto FRD, Vanini G. Chemical and statistical analyses of blotter paper matrix drugs seized in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Forensic Sci Int 2020; 318:110588. [PMID: 33278694 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Drugs of abuse are psychoactive substances illicitly distributed and used worldwide. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, they represent a public health issue and are directly related to several social problems. The recent increase in appearances of new psychoactive substances (NPS), derived from structural modifications of existing psychoactive substances, poses a threat to public health and forensic laboratories worldwide, as little is known about these substances. This study aimed to chemically and geographically map drugs of abuse from blotter papers seized by the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro State (PCERJ) between 2006 and 2019. High-performance analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Orbitrap mass spectrometry (Orbitrap-MS), combined with statistical analyses, were employed to characterize the seized samples. The most common chemical compounds in NPS found in this study were synthetic phenethylamines, i.e., molecules from the 25I-NBOH (2-(((4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethyl)amino)methyl)phenol) and 25I-NBOMe (2-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)ethanamine) families. Prior to 2014, the majority of seized blotter papers contained lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and were concentrated in the Metropolitan region. An upsurge in blotter paper seizures was observed from 2014 to 2017; the most common substances during this time were from the NBOMe family. NBOH compounds emerged in 2016 in coastal regions with high tourism, reaching over 1300 items only in 2017. Only one synthetic cannabinoid was found among the blotter papers seized in Rio de Janeiro between 2006 and 2019. The assembled chemical data and statistical analyses allowed the mapping and monitoring of the chemical profiles of the seized blotter papers, providing a strong foundation for the understanding of the origins and movement of these drugs around the RJ State.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius L Meira
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Química, NAF - LADETEC, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-909, Brazil
| | - Adriana S de Oliveira
- PCERJ, SEPOL, Instituto de Criminalística Carlos Éboli (ICCE), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20060-050, Brazil.
| | - Luciana S A Cohen
- PCERJ, SEPOL, Instituto de Criminalística Carlos Éboli (ICCE), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20060-050, Brazil
| | - Cecília de A Bhering
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Química, NAF - LADETEC, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-909, Brazil
| | - Karen M de Oliveira
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Química, NAF - LADETEC, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-909, Brazil
| | - Denilson S de Siqueira
- PCERJ, SEPOL, Instituto de Criminalística Carlos Éboli (ICCE), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20060-050, Brazil
| | - Marco Antônio Martins de Oliveira
- PCERJ, SEPOL, Instituto de Criminalística Carlos Éboli (ICCE), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20060-050, Brazil; Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Química, GQA, Niterói, RJ, 24020-141, Brazil
| | - Francisco R de Aquino Neto
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Química, NAF - LADETEC, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-909, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Vanini
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Química, NAF - LADETEC, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-909, Brazil
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12
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Food and Drug Analysis. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25102403. [PMID: 32455805 PMCID: PMC7287759 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25102403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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13
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Brandt SD, Kavanagh PV, Westphal F, Stratford A, Odland AU, Klein AK, Dowling G, Dempster NM, Wallach J, Passie T, Halberstadt AL. Return of the lysergamides. Part VI: Analytical and behavioural characterization of 1-cyclopropanoyl-d-lysergic acid diethylamide (1CP-LSD). Drug Test Anal 2020; 12:812-826. [PMID: 32180350 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a prototypical serotonergic psychedelic drug and the subject of many clinical investigations. In recent years, a range of lysergamides has emerged with the production of some being inspired by the existing scientific literature. Others, for example various 1-acyl substituted lysergamides, did not exist before their appearance as research chemicals. 1-Cylopropanoyl-LSD (1CP-LSD) has recently emerged as a new addition to the group of lysergamide-based designer drugs and is believed to be psychoactive in humans. In this investigation, 1CP-LSD was subjected to detailed analytical characterizations including various mass spectrometry (MS) platforms, gas and liquid chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, solid phase and GC condensed phase infrared spectroscopy. Analysis by GC-MS also revealed the detection of artificially induced degradation products. Incubation of 1CP-LSD with human serum led to the formation of LSD, indicating that it may act as a prodrug for LSD in vivo, similar to other 1-acyl substituted lysergamides. The analysis of blotters and pellets is also included. 1CP-LSD also induces the head-twitch response (HTR) in C57BL/6 J mice, indicating that it produces an LSD-like behavioural profile. 1CP-LSD induced the HTR with an ED50 = 430.0 nmol/kg which was comparable to 1P-LSD (ED50 = 349.6 nmol/kg) investigated previously. Clinical studies are required to determine the potency and profile of the effects produced by 1CP-LSD in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pierce V Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Folker Westphal
- Section Narcotics/Toxicology, State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Anna U Odland
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam K Klein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Geraldine Dowling
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Life Sciences, School of Science, Sligo Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland
| | - Nicola M Dempster
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jason Wallach
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Torsten Passie
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Dr Senckenberg Institute for History and Ethics in Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Adam L Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, California, USA
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