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Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric determination of carbon isotope composition in unpurified samples: Methamphetamine example
Author(s) -
Low I. A.,
Liu R. H.,
Legendre M. G.,
Piotrowski E. G.,
Furner R. L.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
biomedical and environmental mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.475
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9888
pISSN - 0887-6134
DOI - 10.1002/bms.1200131003
Subject(s) - methylamine , chemistry , mass spectrometry , chromatography , isotope , isotopes of carbon , gas chromatography , electron ionization , carbon fibers , carbon 13 , analytical chemistry (journal) , quadrupole mass analyzer , quadrupole , ion , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , total organic carbon , materials science , ionization , physics , quantum mechanics , atomic physics , composite number , composite material
A gas chromatograph/quadrupole mass spectrometer system, operated in electron impact/selected ion monitoring mode, is used to determine the intensity ratio of the m/z 59 and the m/z 58 ions of the [C 3 H 8 N] + fragment derived from methamphetamine samples synthesized with varying amounts of 13 C‐labeled methylamine. Crude products are introduced into the gas chromatograph without prior cleanup. The ratios measured were in excellent agreement with those calculated. A change in 0.25% use of 13 C‐methylamine is sufficient for product differentiation. The feasibility of using isotope labeling and subsequent mass spectrometric isotope ratio measurement as the basis of a compound tracing mechanism is discussed. Specifically, if methamphetamine samples manufactured from legal sources are asked to incorporate distinct 13 C compositions, their sources can be traced when samples are diverted into illegal channels. Samples derived from illicit preparations can also be traced if the manufacturers of a precursor (methylamine in this case) incorporate distinct 13 C compositions in their products.