Electrochemical detection of MDMA and 2C-B in ecstasy tablets using a selectivity enhancement strategy by in-situ derivatization
Forensic Chemistry November 23, 2021 Robin van Echelpoel, Ruben F. Kranenburg, Arian van Asten et al. 24 citations
A two-step electrochemical sensor distinguishes between the drugs MDMA and 2C-B. In the first step, direct electrochemical analysis detects MDMA, but testing over 70 substances showed that 2C-B was the only common drug producing a false positive for MDMA. The second step uses formaldehyde to chemically modify 2C-B, creating a distinct electrochemical signal that differentiates it from MDMA. Testing on 71 ecstasy tablets seized by the Amsterdam Police, the sensor correctly identified all 39 MDMA-containing tablets and 10 of 11 tablets containing 2C-B. It also worked on dark-colored tablets where spectroscopic and colorimetric tests failed.