Quantitative Analysis of Substituted N,N-Dimethyl-tryptamines in the Presence of Natural Type XII Alkaloids

A validated analytical protocol using electronic absorption spectroscopy achieves a limit of detection of 7.2 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L and a limit of quantification of 24 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L for mixtures of hallucinogens including N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and its derivatives in the presence of β-carbolines. Additional protocols using HPLC, ESI-MS, MS/MS, MALDI-MS, and Raman spectroscopy are partially validated. The known synergistic effect that increases psychoactive properties and reported acute poisoning cases from these compounds underscore the need for such precise analytical methods, which are relevant to criminal forensic analysis.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This paper reports the qualitative and quantitative analysis (QA) of mixtures of hallucinogens, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) (1), 5-methoxy- (1a) and 5-hydroxy- N,N-dimethyltryptamine (1b) in the presence of β-carbolines (indole alkaloids of type XII) {(2), (3) and (5)}. The validated electronic absorption spectroscopic (EAs) protocol achieved a concentration limit of detection (LOD) of 7.2.10- 7 mol/L {concentration limit of quantification (LOQ) of 24.10- 7 mol/L} using bands (λ max ) within 260±0.23-262±0.33 nm. Metrology, including accuracy, measurement repeatability, measurement precision, trueness of measurement,and reproducibility of the measurements are presented using N,N- dimethyltryptamine (DMA) as standard. The analytical quantities of mixtures of alkaloids 4, 6 and 7 are: λ max 317±0.45, 338±0.69 and 430±0.09 for 4 (LOD, 8.6.10- 7 mol/L; LOQ, 28.66 6 , mol/L), as well as 528±0.75 nm for 6 and 7 (LOD, 8.2. 10- 7 mol/L; LOQ, 27.33 3 , mol/L), respectively. The partially validated protocols by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), electrospray ionization (ESI), mass spectrometry (MS), both in single and tandem operation (MS/MS) mode, as well as matrix/assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MS are elaborated. The Raman spectroscopic (RS) protocol for analysis of psychoactive substances, characterized by strong fluorescence RS profile was developed, with the detection limits being discussed. The known synergistic effect leading to increase the psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties and the reported acute poisoning cases from 1-7, make the present study emergent, since as well the current lack of analytical data and the herein metrology obtained contributed to the elaboration of highly selective and precise analytical protocols, which would be of interest in the field of criminal forensic analysis.