Chemical Profiling of 3,4 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) Tablets Seized in Hong Kong
Journal of Forensic Sciences November 1, 2003 Wing‐chi Cheng, Nai-Leung Poon, Monica S. M. Chan 38 citations
During 2000-2001, the Government Laboratory of Hong Kong analyzed over 600,000 ecstasy tablets from more than 2,600 cases. Using GC-MS and FTIR, the tablets were categorized into four groups based on their major amphetamine-type stimulant: MDMA, methamphetamine, MDA, or amphetamine. MDMA tablets constituted 98% of all ecstasy tablets examined in 2000 and 71% in 2001. Chemical profiling of 613 MDMA cases (123,776 tablets) in 2001, using GC-MS and HPLC, allowed determination of whether tablets from different seizures shared a common origin. Common impurities detected included MDP2P, MDP, MDB, piperonal, and N-formyl-MDMA, which served as markers for inferring synthetic routes. The finding of a dihydrogen phosphate salt of MDMA (HMDMA)H2PO4 was noted, with a 1:1 ratio of phosphate to MDMA.