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δ 13 C, δ 15 N and δ 2 H isotope ratio mass spectrometry of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine: application to methylamphetamine profiling
Author(s) -
Collins Michael,
Cawley Adam T.,
Heagney Aaron C.,
Kissane Luke,
Robertson James,
Salouros Helen
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.4109
Subject(s) - pseudoephedrine , chemistry , ephedrine , isotope ratio mass spectrometry , mass spectrometry , isotope , stable isotope ratio , isotope dilution , analytical chemistry (journal) , chromatography , radiochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , biology
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 ( δ 13 C), nitrogen ( δ 15 N) and hydrogen ( δ 2 H) measured in methylamphetamine samples synthesized from ephedrine and pseudoephedrine of known provenance. It is clear from the results that measurement of the δ 13 C, δ 15 N and δ 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. Copyright © 2009 Commonwealth of Australia. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.