The Analyst
March 1, 2000
S E Bell, D T Burns, A C Dennis et al.
112 citations
Raman spectroscopy using far-red (785 nm) excitation can identify MDMA and related drugs in seized tablets, even when mixed with other materials. The technique produces clear spectra with only two-minute data collection, distinguishing chemically similar substances like MDEA and MBDB, and different forms of the same drug. It also identifies bulking agents and allows semi-quantitative analysis of drug and excipient amounts. The method is rapid, non-destructive, and suitable for automatic sample handling, achieving throughputs of 20 samples per hour.
The Analyst
May 14, 2002
James F. Carter, Emma L. Titterton, Martin Murray et al.
70 citations
Analyzing the ratios of hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen isotopes (delta2H, delta13C, delta15N) in MDA and MDMA extracted from seized ecstasy tablets creates a distinct isotopic fingerprint for each batch. This fingerprint can link individual tablets to a common production batch. Combining these data with deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance (2H NMR) analysis of the extracts may reveal information about the natural precursor materials and the synthetic pathways used to manufacture MDA and its N-substituted homologues.
The Analyst
January 1, 2005
Simon D. Brandt, Sally Freeman, Ian A. Fleet et al.
46 citations
The degree of alkylation of the side chain nitrogen in tryptamines influences psychoactivity. The Speeter and Anthony method, which reduces a substituted indole-3-yl-glyoxalylamide to the desired tryptamine with metal hydride, was used to synthesize 12 symmetrically and 13 asymmetrically N,N-disubstituted glyoxalylamides and their corresponding tryptamine derivatives. These compounds were characterized by gas chromatography EI-ion trap mass spectrometry, electrospray-triple quadrupole-tandem mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy. A solvent dependency in NMR chemical shifts must be considered for unambiguous assignment. The 1H-NMR study allowed evaluation of rotamer populations of asymmetrical glyoxalylamides. For forensic or clinical monitoring, appropriate ion transitions focus on beta-cleavage and alpha-cleavage fragmentations. The analytical data aid in spectral identification of psychoactive tryptamines.
The Analyst
January 1, 2004
Simon D. Brandt, Sally Freeman, Ian A. Fleet et al.
27 citations
5-MeO-DIPT, a new psychoactive tryptamine derivative, was synthesized using the Speeter and Anthony procedure. The synthetic route was characterized by ESI-MS-MS, ESI-TOF-MS, and NMR. Side products were identified as 3-(2-N,N-diisopropylamino-ethyl)-1H-indol-5-ol, 2-N,N-diisopropylamino-1-(5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)-ethanol, 2-(5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)-ethanol, and 2-N,N-diisopropylamino-1-(5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)-ethanone.
The Analyst
January 1, 2005
Simon D. Brandt, Sally Freeman, Ian A. Fleet et al.
10 citations
Twelve symmetrically and 13 asymmetrically N,N-disubstituted glyoxalylamide precursors and their corresponding tryptamine derivatives were characterized using gas chromatography low-pressure chemical ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry with methanol as the chemical ionization reagent. In tryptamines, formation of [CH2=N+R2R3] iminium ions after beta-cleavage dominates, while dissociation into [3-vinylindole]+ is a minor pathway compared to electrospray triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry, where that transition is distinctively important. This method also enables differentiation between most isomeric derivatives studied.
The Analyst
January 13, 2025
Olga Wachełko, Karolina Nowak, Kaja Tusiewicz et al.
4 citations
A highly sensitive analytical method using UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS can detect LSD, 13 of its designer analogs, and a metabolite at femtogram-per-milliliter levels in blood, urine, plasma, and serum. The method separates structural isomers and achieves a limit of quantification of 0.5 pg/mL for all substances. A 30-day stability study showed that collecting samples in sodium fluoride (NaF) tubes stabilizes LSD analogs and minimizes conversion of N1-substituted compounds to LSD or MiPLA. The method is the most sensitive reported for analyzing designer LSD analogs in biological samples and is suitable for routine clinical and forensic use. Fragmentation patterns from mass spectra are proposed to aid future identification of new designer LSD analogs.