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.