Comparison of the Characteristic Mass Fragmentations of Phenethylamines and Tryptamines by Electron Ionization Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, Electrospray and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Three analytical methods—matrix-assisted laser desorption/time-of-flight mass spectrometry, gas chromatography–electron ionization–mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry—were compared for characterizing 20 phenethylamine and tryptamine standards. For GC-EI/MS, three characteristic peaks (the molecular ion and fragments from Cβ-Cα bond breakage) uniquely identified 2C series compounds. For ESI/MS and MALDI/TOFMS, the protonated molecular ion and fragments from α-cleavage and β-cleavage provided useful information for rapid screening and confirmation of phenethylamine and tryptamine derivatives. The assay successfully determined samples containing illicit drugs.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Characteristic mass fragmentation of 20 phenethylamine/tryptamine standards were investigated and compared by means of matrix assisted laser desorption/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOFM), gas chromatography–electron ionization–mass spectrometry (GC-EI/MS) and liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS) methods. As a result, three characteristic peaks ([M]+ and fragments from the Cβ-Cα bond breakage) were found to be unique and contained information useful in identifying 2C series compounds based on the GC-EI/MS method. We found that the protonated molecular ion ([M+H]+) and two types of fragments produced from the α-cleavage and β-cleavage processes were useful mass spectral information in the rapid screening and confirmation of phenethylamine and tryptamine derivatives when ESI/MS and MALDI/TOFMS methods were applied. This assay was successfully used to determine samples that contain illicit drugs.