Phenethylamine-derived new psychoactive substances 2C-E-FLY, 2C-EF-FLY, and 2C-T-7-FLY: Investigations on their metabolic fate including isoenzyme activities and their toxicological detectability in urine screenings.

Three new psychoactive substances of the 2C-FLY series—2C-E-FLY, 2C-EF-FLY, and 2C-T-7-FLY—were studied to determine how the body metabolizes them and how they can be detected in toxicological tests. Using rat urine and human liver S9 fractions analyzed by LC-HRMS/MS, 32 metabolites were identified. Main metabolic steps were hydroxylation and N-acetylation, catalyzed by CYP2D6, CYP3A4, FMO3, NAT1, and NAT2. Deamination by MAO-A and B was also observed. Polymorphisms or drug interactions may cause interindividual differences. Standard urine screening approaches using GC-MS, LC-MSn, and LC-HRMS/MS were suitable for detecting intake, but common metabolites of 2C-E-FLY and 2C-EF-FLY must be considered when interpreting results.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psychoactive substances of the 2C-series are phenethylamine-based designer drugs that can induce psychostimulant and hallucinogenic effects. The so-called 2C-FLY series contains rigidified methoxy groups integrated in a 2,3,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']difuran core. The aim of the presented work was to investigate the in vivo and in vitro metabolic fate including isoenzyme activities and toxicological detectability of the three new psychoactive substances (NPS) 2C-E-FLY, 2C-EF-FLY, and 2C-T-7-FLY to allow clinical and forensic toxicologists the identification of these novel compounds. Rat urine, after oral administration, and pooled human liver S9 fraction (pS9) incubations were analyzed by liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). By performing activity screenings, the human isoenzymes involved were identified and toxicological detectability in rat urine investigated using standard urine screening approaches (SUSAs) based on gas chromatography (GC)-MS, LC-MSn , and LC-HRMS/MS. In total, 32 metabolites were tentatively identified. Main metabolic steps consisted of hydroxylation and N-acetylation. Phase I metabolic reactions were catalyzed by CYP2D6, 3A4, and FMO3 and N-acetylation by NAT1 and NAT2. Methoxyamine was used as a trapping agent for detection of the deaminated metabolite formed by MAO-A and B. Interindividual differences in the metabolism of the 2C-FLY drugs could be caused by polymorphisms of enzymes involved or drug-drug interactions. All three SUSAs were shown to be suitable to detect an intake of these NPS but common metabolites of 2C-E-FLY and 2C-EF-FLY have to be considered during interpretation of analytical findings.