Stability studies of ALD-52 and its homologue 1P-LSD.

Blotter papers once carried only LSD, but now contain related lysergamides such as ALD-52 and 1P-LSD. When these papers are analyzed by solvent extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the solvent choice matters: methanol and ethanol cause ALD-52 to convert into LSD during analysis, while isopropyl alcohol prevents that conversion. The hydrolysis happens at the GC injector port and is more pronounced at lower concentrations (0.1 mg/mL). 1P-LSD also hydrolyzes to LSD, but is more stable than ALD-52 because its propanoyl group provides steric hindrance.

Study at a glance

Abstract

With the emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) over the years, the substances detected on stamps (also known as blotter papers) have also evolved from the traditional drug-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) to the multiple variants of lysergamides such as ALD-52 and 1P-LSD. The analysis of such blotter papers is usually done by solvent extraction followed by identification using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This study has shown that hydrolysis to form LSD was observed in GC-MS analysis when ALD-52 was extracted with methanol. The extraction of ALD-52 using other solvents such as acetonitrile, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, and acetone, followed by GC-MS analysis, was investigated. It is shown that alcoholic solvents such as methanol and ethanol will result in the conversion of ALD-52 to LSD during GC-MS analysis, whereas the sterically hindered isopropyl alcohol will prevent this conversion. Investigation also shows that the hydrolysis of ALD-52 to LSD occurs at the GC injector port. It was also observed that the degree of hydrolysis was more pronounced at a lower concentration (0.1 mg/mL). The study was extended to a close analog-1P-LSD, and the results showed that 1P-LSD similarly hydrolyzes to LSD. However, 1P-LSD was observed to be more stable than ALD-52 due to steric hindrance because of the propanoyl group.