Skip to content

Pierce Kavanagh

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

4 papers in the library · 34 citations · publishing 2015-2024

Papers

The Psilocin (4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) and Bufotenine (5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) Case: Ensuring the Correct Isomer has Been Identified.

Journal of forensic sciences September 1, 2020 Tehila Mishraki-Berkowitz, Esti Kochelski, Pierce Kavanagh et al. 12 citations

Psilocin and bufotenine are naturally occurring controlled substances, while two other isomers (6-HO-DMT and 7-HO-DMT) are not classified as controlled substances. The four isomers were synthesized and analyzed using thin layer chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. The methods successfully differentiated all four isomers. Analysis of forensic specimens suspected to be psilocybe mushrooms confirmed that psilocin can be unequivocally identified and its other isomers ruled out, providing accurate identification for forensic investigations.

Test purchase, identification and synthesis of 2-amino-1-(4-bromo-2, 5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethan-1-one (bk-2C-B).

Drug testing and analysis June 1, 2015 John D Power, Pierce Kavanagh, John O'Brien et al. 12 citations

A substance called bk-2C-B, a cathinone analogue of the psychoactive phenethylamine 2C-B, has become available from online retailers. Its identity was confirmed through multiple analytical methods, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas and liquid chromatography, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The compound was also synthesized using the Delépine reaction. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed potential for artificial formation of byproducts, but these were not seen with liquid chromatography. Analysis revealed the purchased material was a mixture of hydrochloride and hydrobromide salts, suggesting a specific synthetic route, and X-ray crystallography showed it exists as polymorphs.

Bioisosteric analogs of MDMA: Improving the pharmacological profile?

Journal of neurochemistry September 1, 2024 Ana Sofia Alberto-Silva, Selina Hemmer, Hailey A Bock et al. 10 citations

Three new chemical variants of MDMA—ODMA, TDMA, and SeDMA—show similar activity at serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine transporters but reduced activity at 5-HT2A/2B/2C receptors compared to MDMA. They also differ in liver metabolism, with N-demethylation as the only shared route and no phase II metabolites formed. TDMA showed faster clearance. The analogs interacted more weakly with organic cation transporters and plasma membrane monoamine transporter. These bioisosteres may offer therapeutic alternatives to MDMA with a reduced off-target profile, but further studies are needed to determine if they pose lower risks.

Bioisosteric analogs of MDMA with improved pharmacological profile.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology April 11, 2024 Ana Sofia Alberto-Silva, Selina Hemmer, Hailey A Bock et al. preprint

Three new chemical variants of MDMA—ODMA, TDMA, and SeDMA—show similar activity at serotonin and dopamine transporters but reduced activity at serotonin 5-HT2A/2B/2C receptors, which may lower the risk of off-target side effects. They also differ from MDMA in how they are broken down by the liver, with fewer metabolic pathways and no phase II metabolites. The analogs interact more weakly with certain organic cation transporters. These findings suggest the new compounds could be promising therapeutic alternatives to MDMA for conditions like PTSD, though further research is needed to confirm whether they pose lower risks.