Identification and characterization of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-nitro-β-phenethylamine (2C-N)--a new member of 2C-series of designer drug.
Dariusz Zuba, Karolina Sekuła, Agnieszka Buczek
Forensic science international October 10, 2012 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.07.006 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA powder sample seized by Polish authorities in 2011 was identified as the hallucinogen 2,5-dimethoxy-4-nitro-β-phenethylamine (2C-N). Mass spectrometry confirmed its molecular mass, and gas chromatography and liquid chromatography produced characteristic ion patterns. Infrared spectroscopy showed two broad bands from the nitro group, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy unequivocally determined the molecular structure. The analytical approach proved effective for characterizing new designer drugs.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Analytical chemistry study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | A seized powder sample containing 2C-N |
| Keywords | Drug characterization Designer drug identification Emerging substance identification Drug detection Analytical chemistry |
| Citations | 26 |
| Key finding | The seized powder was identified as 2C-N using mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. |
Abstract
The online sale of psychoactive substances, including hallucinogens, is becoming a serious problem in many countries. This paper presents and discusses the mass spectrometric, infrared spectroscopic and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-nitro-β-phenethylamine (2C-N), which was identified in a powder sample seized by the authorities in 2011 in Poland. The molecular mass of 2C-N (226.0954 amu) was confirmed in the LC/ESI-QTOFMS experiment. The molecular ion was also observed in the GC-EI/MS spectrum. A characteristic set of ions for the parent substance was found using both chromatographic methods, and when derivatization with trifuluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA) was applied. Two broad dominant bands at 1520 cm(-1) and 1342/1322 cm(-1), observed in the FTIR spectrum of 2C-N, originated from the nitro group. NMR spectroscopy helped unequivocal elucidation of the structure. The applied identification procedure proved to be a powerful tool to determine the structure of a new designer drug.