Case report: Identification of AP-238 and 2-fluorodeschloroketamine in internet available powder samples sold as bucinnazine.

Two white powders bought online as bucinnazine were analyzed by microscopy, DART-MS, and GC-MS. Neither powder contained bucinnazine: powder #1 was 78.0% pure 2-fluoro-deschloroketamine, and powder #2 was 88.9% pure AP-238. The findings raise public health and safety concerns because internet-purchased novel synthetic opioids may contain different active compounds than labeled, and their toxicological risks remain poorly understood.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Novel synthetic opioids (NSOs) are a class of opioid agonists that include analogs of fentanyl and structurally distinct non-fentanyl compounds normally used as standalone products, heroin adulterants, or constituents of counterfeit pain pills. Most NSOs are not currently scheduled in the U.S., are predominantly illegally synthesized, and sold on the Darknet. Among them, the cinnamylpiperazine derivatives such as bucinnazine (AP-237), AP-238, and 2-methyl-AP-237 and the arylcyclohexylamine derivatives, analogs of ketamine, such as 2-fluoro-deschloroketamine (2 F-DCK) have appeared in several monitoring systems. Two white powders purchased on the internet as bucinnazine were first analyzed with polarized light microscopy followed by direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry (DART-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Both powders were white crystals with no other significant microscopic properties. The DART-MS analysis showed the presence of 2-fluorodeschloroketamine in powder #1, and AP-238 in powder #2. Identification was confirmed by GC-MS. The purity of each substance was 78.0% for powder #1, and 88.9% for powder #2, respectively. The toxicological risk associated with the misuse of NSOs still needs further study. The absence of bucinnazine and the presence of different active compounds in internet purchased samples raises public health and safety concerns.