New synthetic drugs in the European Union

Use of novel haptens in the production of antibodies for the detection of tryptamines

Tryptamines are a group of hallucinogenic drugs whose detection in body fluids could be simplified by immunochemical assay kits. Antibodies for these assays are obtained by the immunization of laboratory animals with conjugates of a hapten similar to the target analyte and a suitable protein. Therefore we synthesized novel haptens derived from tryptamine-based drugs, with N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) and N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (DiPT) selected as the target analytes. Their structures were modified with a short linker ended with a carboxylic group. The haptens were conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and rabbits were immunized with the conjugates. The obtained polyclonal antibodies showed good reactivity and the LOD of the constructed ELISAs was in the range 0.006-0.254 ng mL-1. Thus, they are suitable for the development of immunochemical assay kits.

Identification of ten new designer drugs by GC-MS, UPLC-QTOF-MS, and NMR as part of a police investigation of a Danish internet company

The ability of forensic laboratories to detect and identify unknown compounds is highly important since new, non-controlled designer drugs are appearing on the market with increasing frequency. In this study, the combined use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) was used for screening of new unknowns. In one large seizure from a Danish Internet company, ten different drugs were identified. Several of the compounds were seized for the first time in Denmark. The GC-MS and UPLC-QTOF-MS analyses were supplemented by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra for the structural elucidation of p-fluoroamphetamine, mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone), flephedrone (4-fluoromethcathinone), PPP (α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone), MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone), Bk-MBDB (2-methylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butan-1-one), pFBT (3-(pfluorobenzoyl)-tropane), and JWH-073 (1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indol), whereas methylone (3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone) and N-ethylcathinone matched electron impact-mass spectrometry (EI-MS) library spectra and therefore the screenings were considered sufficient. EI-MS spectra and the proposed main fragmentation patterns are presented as well as QTOF-MS exact masses and fragments and NMR chemical shifts. For the β-ketophenylethylamines (mephedrone, flephedrone, PPP, MDPV, Bk-MBDB, methylone, and N-ethylcathinone) some general fragmentation patterns observed in the EI-MS and QTOF-MS spectra are further discussed and compared to other β-ketophenylethylamines.

BZP-party pills: a review of research on benzylpiperazine as a recreational drug

BACKGROUND

BZP-party pills are yet another 'designer drug' which mimics the stimulant qualities of amphetamines and MDMA/Ecstasy. As legal markets for the substance have developed in the last decade (especially amongst young people) so has public and governmental concern.

METHODS

This article provides a summary of the available international research on benzylpiperazine (BZP) and its popular use in the compound form known as 'party pills'. Through performing an analysis of the available medical and social scientific literature, the review outlines current knowledge on the compound, the prevalence of usage of BZP-party pills, as well as the associated harms, risks and rationales for use of the drug.

RESULTS

Despite moves towards legislative control of BZP-party pills, the evidence presented suggests limited social and health harms associated with the drug, although research on long term effects is a significant gap in the literature. It also remains inconclusive as to whether BZP-party pills act as a 'gateway' to illegal drugs or, conversely, play a role in harm reduction with illegal drug users turning to legal alternatives; there is some evidence for both positions.

CONCLUSION

With increasing controls of BZP-party pills, and with the increasing numbers of 'legal highs' and new designer drugs on the market, we conclude that new legal alternatives will continue to surface to replace the drug in the future. Considering a harm reduction approach to drug taking, it is suggested that policy makers consider the creation of a legal holding category which restricts and regulates the market in legal highs whilst the social and health harms associated with each drug can be thoroughly investigated.

Chemical analysis of four capsules containing the controlled substance analogues 4-methylmethcathinone, 2-fluoromethamphetamine, alpha-phthalimidopropiophenone and N-ethylcathinone

In August 2007, four capsules containing white powders, said to have originated from an Israel-based Internet company "Neorganics", were anonymously delivered to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia. The capsules were analysed and the active components were identified including 4-methylmethcathinone, 2-fluoromethamphetamine, alpha-phthalimidopropiophenone and N-ethylcathinone, all of which were unlisted within South Australian controlled substance regulations. We examined the relevant scientific literature surrounding these chemicals and present both GCMS and NMR data for 4-methylmethcathinone and alpha-phthalimidopropiophenone, which have previously received little attention. We also present the vapour- and condensed-phase infrared spectra (IR) of 4-methylmethcathinone as these have also not been reported in the literature previously. We discuss the issues surrounding whether these chemicals can be classified as controlled substance analogues and the likely impact this could have on prosecutions of individuals distributing these products.

Postmortem distribution of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N,N-dimethyl-amphetamine (MDDM or MDDA) in a fatal MDMA overdose

In this manuscript, a newly identified compound, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N,N-dimethylamphetamine (MDDM or also called MDDA), was quantified. The substance was identified in the biological specimens of a 31-year-old man who died following a massive 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) overdose. In addition, the postmortem distribution of the identified substance in various body fluids and tissues was evaluated. For MDDM quantitation, a formerly reported and validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was adapted. The following quantitative results of the MDDM quantitation were obtained: Femoral blood, aorta ascendens, and right atrial blood contained 2.5, 21.7, and 11.6 ng MDDM/ml, respectively. In left and right pleural fluid and pericardial fluid, concentrations of 47.0, 21.7, and 31.9 ng/ml, respectively, were found. MDDM levels in urine, bile, and stomach contents were 42.4, 1,101, and 1,113 ng/ml, respectively. MDDM concentrations in lungs, liver, kidney, and left cardiac muscle ranged from 12.8 to 39.8 ng/g, whereas these levels were below the limit of quantitation (< LOQ) in right cardiac and iliopsoas muscle. In conclusion, for the first time, MDDM was unambiguously identified in a fatal MDMA overdose. MDDM was probably present as a synthesis by-product or impurity in the MDMA tablets, which were taken in a huge amount by the victim, or MDDM was ingested separately and prior to the MDMA overdose. A third option, i.e., the eventual formation of MDDM as a result of postmortem methylation of MDMA by formaldehyde, produced by putrefaction processes or during storage under frozen conditions, is also discussed. The MDDM levels, substantiated in various body fluids and tissues, are in line with the distribution established for other amphetamine derivatives and confirm that peripheral blood sampling, such as that of femoral blood, remains the "golden standard".

LC-MS/MS in the elucidation of an isomer of the recreational drug methylenedioxy ethylamphetamine: Methylenedioxy dimethylamphetamine

This paper describes the surplus value of a quadrupole-orthogonal acceleration TOF mass spectrometer, coupled to a liquid chromatographic separation system, for the unequivocal identification and structural elucidation of an unknown compound in the field of designer drugs. In a patient sample set (blood, tissues, vitreous humor, etc.), analyzed with a dedicated liquid chromatographic-fluorescence detection method for the determination of methylenedioxy amphetamine, methylenedioxy methamphetamine, and methylenedioxy ethylamphetamine (MDEA), a "strange" inexplicable peak appeared at a retention time not corresponding to any of our reference materials. Based on the identical excitation and emission wavelengths in detection, and a retention behavior comparable to MDEA, it was assumed that this unknown compound was an isomer of the recreational drug MDEA. With a simple and straightforward methodological crossover between LC fluorescence detection and LC-MS/MS, additional information for structural elucidation was easily obtained. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Hypersil BDS C18 column (fluorescence detection part) and on a Hypersil BDS phenyl column (mass spectrometric detection part). MS showed that the unknown compound's molecular mass was identical to that of MDEA, and, in addition, its fragmentation pattern too proved quite similar to that of MDEA. A thorough literature overview and study of the fragmentation pattern by means of the MS/MS spectrum led to an evidence-based hypothesis of 3,4-methylenedioxy N,N-dimethylamphetamine (MDDM) being the unknown compound. To confirm this hypothesis, MDDM was synthesized and its presence in our biological sample was finally demonstrated by co-injection with alternatively synthesized MDDM and MDEA. This application shows the synergism between LC and MS in the elucidation of unknown compounds, nevertheless emphasizing the essence of chromatographic separation when dealing with isomers.

Some pyridine derivatives as “route-specific markers” in 4-methoxyamphetamine (PMA) prepared by the Leuckart method

The two previously unknown isomeric aryl-methylpyridines were prepared and analysed. Both 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-(4'-methoxyphenyl)pyridine and 2,4-dimethyl-3,5-di-(4'-methoxyphenyl)pyridine have been identified as a new by-product in the crude 4-methoxyamphetamine (PMA) obtained via the Leuckart method. The synthesis of 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-diphenylpyridine, which is connected to amphetamine chemistry, is also reported. It was also found that different reagents (formamide, formamide/HCOOH, ammonium formate) used in the course of the Leuckart synthesis of PMA significantly affected the impurity content. The presented results point out on the "high-boiling pyridines" as compounds especially useful in the comparative analysis, since their profile seems to be independent on the purification procedure and may be conveyed from the crude reaction mixture even into a carefully purified final product.

Arylethylamine psychotropic recreational drugs: a chemical perspective

The arylethylamines substituted in the aryl ring, side-chain carbons and on the terminal amine, comprise a large number of human mood and behaviour altering chemicals. Some of these psychotropic drugs have been used since pre-history, but in many states are proscribed and are consequently subject to clandestine synthesis and illegal traffic world-wide in the forms particularly of amphetamines and to a lesser extent tryptamines. The chemistry employed in the synthesis of these compounds is dictated often by the available precursors and relies usually on relatively simple, unsophisticated conversion reactions to a suitable product. The internet web sites and documentation of the recreational drug culture have been studied alongside the professional scientific and regulatory literature. The review demonstrates the great complexity of the chemistry and neuro-pharmacology of these chemicals and the challenge faced by legislative bodies to control their traffic and use for the sake of social welfare.