Identification and characterization of a novel cathinone derivative 1-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-5-yl)-2-phenyl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethanone seized by customs in Jersey

Abstract

A suspicious white powder labeled "idanyl-biphenyl-amninone", which was seized by customs at the "channel island" of Jersey, UK, was brought to our laboratory to identify and characterize its structure. For the elucidation process it required the use of several complementary analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The unknown compound was finally identified as 1-(2,3dihydro-1H-inden-5-yl)-2-phenyl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethanone, a novel cathinone derivative. To the best of our knowledge this compound has not been registered in the CAS or IUPAC database. However it has recently been marketed on the internet as "indapyrophenidone" and we therefore

Identification and characterization of a putative new psychoactive substance, 2‐(2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)acetamido)‐3‐methylbutanamide, in Spain

“…[5,[11][12][13][14] Consequently, analytical methods to identify and quantify this compound have been developed in forensic toxicology. [18,19] In a previous paper, we described two new methods for the LC-MS/MS detection of propofol in urine and blood through the electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) with aryl-diazonium salt (ArN 2 + [15] New methods have been developed in liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), in particular for the phase II metabolites, as markers of propofol administration.…”

“…The combination of COSY and HSQC (both spectra were acquired at 500 MHz, DMSO-d 6 and D 2 O) provides enough information for the tentative identification of this compound. [19] Figure 3 shows COSY and HSQC for the sample, identifying NMR signals based on the structure of the compound. COSY (Figure 3, top) shows the correlation between the hydrogens of the molecule, while HSQC (Figure 3, bottom) indicates which proton corresponds to each carbon signal.…”

“…Liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to high-resolution MS (HRMS) has proven to be a powerful technique for the screening of NPS in legal highs samples. [19] The aim of the work reported here was the determination of the main compound present in a crystal sample from an anonymous Spanish consumer. [11,13,14] HRMS/MS also has potential application in the compound structural elucidation of unknown substances by using accurate-mass fragmentation data.…”

“…Thus, the combination of spectroscopic and mass spectrometric techniques provides a versatile workflow for structural elucidation, characterization and identification of unknown substances. [19] The aim of the work reported here was the determination of the main compound present in a crystal sample from an anonymous Spanish consumer. The structure of a new designer drug derivate was elucidated after an exhaustive analysis using various analytical techniques.…”

“…The derivatization methods described in literature for propofol were only focused on the hydroxyl group (ÀOH) reacting with dansyl and N-methylpyridinium groups. [18,19] In a previous paper, we described two new methods for the LC-MS/MS detection of propofol in urine and blood through the electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) with aryl-diazonium salt…”