Identification of Impurities in Illicit Methamphetamine Samples

Barron, Robert P.; Kruegel, Alice V; Moore, James M.; Kram, Theodore C.

doi:10.1093/jaoac/57.5.1147

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…To date, only one route specific impurity for Leuckart-synthesized methamphetamine has been suggested: N -formylmethamphetamine. , However, a study by Qi et al cast doubt on the “route specific” status of this impurity; the authors reported N -formylmethamphetamine in seized methamphetamine samples which were believed to have been synthesized from ephedrine (i.e., not from the Leuckart or reductive amination routes, which have P2P as the starting material). In the present work, N -formylmethamphetamine was found in all batches of methamphetamine, regardless of whether the Leuckart or reductive amination routes were used, thus confirming that N -formylmethamphetamine is not route specific for the Leuckart method of methamphetamine synthesis.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Route Specific Impurities Found in Methamphetamine Synthesized by the Leuckart and Reductive Amination Methods

et al. 2009

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Impurity profiling of seized methamphetamine can provide very useful information in criminal investigations and, specifically, on drug trafficking routes, sources of supply, and relationships between seizures. Particularly important is the identification of “route specific” impurities or those which indicate the synthetic method used for manufacture in illicit laboratories. Previous researchers have suggested impurities which are characteristic of the Leuckart and reductive amination (Al/Hg) methods of preparation. However, to date and importantly, these two synthetic methods have not been compared in a single study utilizing methamphetamine hydrochloride synthesized in-house and, therefore, of known synthetic origin. Using the same starting material, 1-phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), 40 batches of methamphetamine hydrochloride were synthesized by the Leuckart and reductive amination methods (20 batches per method). Both basic and acidic impurities were extracted separately and analyzed by GC/MS. From this controlled study, two route specific impurities for the Leuckart method and one route specific impurity for the reductive amination method are reported. The intra- and inter-batch variation of these route specific impurities was assessed. Also, the variation of the “target impurities” recently recommended for methamphetamine profiling is discussed in relation to their variation within and between production batches synthesized using the Leuckart and reductive amination routes.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Route Specific Impurities Found in Methamphetamine Synthesized by the Leuckart and Reductive Amination Methods

et al. 2009

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“…Such information can assist national and international agencies in monitoring the diversion of legitimate industrial chemicals for illegitimate purposes. Most clandestine production employs (1 R ,2 S )‐(−)‐ephedrine, (1 S ,2 S )‐(+)‐pseudoephedrine or phenyl‐2‐propanone (P2P) as the immediate precursors and all procedures employ a reduction step of some kind 6–15. These common synthetic routes involving ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are shown in Fig.…”

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confidence: 99%

δ¹³C,δ¹⁵N andδ²H isotope ratio mass spectrometry of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine: application to methylamphetamine profiling

Collins

Cawley

Heagney

et al. 2009

Rapid Comm Mass Spectrometry

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Conventional chemical profiling of methylamphetamine has been used for many years to determine the synthetic route employed and where possible to identify the precursor chemicals used. In this study stable isotope ratio analysis was investigated as a means of determining the origin of the methylamphetamine precursors, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine may be prepared industrially by several routes. Results are presented for the stable isotope ratios of carbon (delta(13)C), nitrogen (delta(15)N) and hydrogen (delta(2)H) measured in methylamphetamine samples synthesized from ephedrine and pseudoephedrine of known provenance. It is clear from the results that measurement of the delta(13)C, delta(15)N and delta(2)H stable isotope ratios by elemental analyzer/thermal conversion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/TC-IRMS) in high-purity methylamphetamine samples will allow determination of the synthetic source of the ephedrine or pseudoephedrine precursor as being either of a natural, semi-synthetic, or fully synthetic origin.

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“…At the same time, it should be noted that the specified grain size is of an estimated nature and is burdened with a rather large measurement error. In [7], one can find a statement that in the case of deep cryogenic treatment, this value may change by approx. 4 to 6%.…”

Section: Microstructurementioning

confidence: 99%

Archives of Metallurgy and Materials

Ciski¹

2018

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The paper presents properties of HS6-5-2 high speed steel subjected to deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) and subsequent tempering at different temperatures. DCT process of HS6-5-2 steel leads to shifting of maximum hardness peak to the lower temperature and the reduction of the obtained maximum hardness by about 1 HRC.These changes in hardness may be due to the shifting of the stage of nucleation and growth of carbide phases to lower temperatures or the changes taking place in the matrix, connected with the additional transformation of the martensite proceeding during the isothermal martensitic transformation occurring at cryogenic temperatures and more extensively occurring precipitation processes, lowering the content of the carbon in the martensite, determining thereby its lower hardness.

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Identification of Impurities in Illicit Methamphetamine Samples

Cited by 10 publications

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Characterization of Route Specific Impurities Found in Methamphetamine Synthesized by the Leuckart and Reductive Amination Methods

Characterization of Route Specific Impurities Found in Methamphetamine Synthesized by the Leuckart and Reductive Amination Methods

δ¹³C,δ¹⁵N andδ²H isotope ratio mass spectrometry of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine: application to methylamphetamine profiling

Archives of Metallurgy and Materials

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Identification of Impurities in Illicit Methamphetamine Samples

Cited by 10 publications

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Characterization of Route Specific Impurities Found in Methamphetamine Synthesized by the Leuckart and Reductive Amination Methods

Characterization of Route Specific Impurities Found in Methamphetamine Synthesized by the Leuckart and Reductive Amination Methods

δ13C,δ15N andδ2H isotope ratio mass spectrometry of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine: application to methylamphetamine profiling

Archives of Metallurgy and Materials

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δ¹³C,δ¹⁵N andδ²H isotope ratio mass spectrometry of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine: application to methylamphetamine profiling