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The Characterization of 3,4‐Dimethylmethcathinone (3,4‐DMMC)
Author(s) -
Locos Oliver,
Reynolds Dominic
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02142.x
Subject(s) - mephedrone , cathinone , designer drug , mass spectrometry , chemistry , fragmentation (computing) , chromatography , mass spectrum , gas chromatography , analytical chemistry (journal) , psychology , drug , amphetamine , neuroscience , psychiatry , computer science , dopamine , operating system , biology
Analogs and derivatives of traditional illicit drugs are ever increasing in variety and creativity. Staying abreast of the new developments is a constant challenge for every forensic laboratory. Recently, a seizure from Australian Customs Service presented our laboratory with the designer cathinone 3,4‐dimethylmethcathinone (3,4‐DMMC). Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry were employed to analyze the spectroscopic characteristics of this cathinone. As an analog, 3,4‐DMMC exhibits similar if not identical IR and UV profiles to mephedrone (4‐MMC) and methcathinone; however, the retention time from GC is unique as expected, and the electron impact fragmentation pattern is consistent with the fragmentation pattern of other cathinones. The chemical shifts of the carbons and hydrogens were assigned by both one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR techniques, while the molecular weight was confirmed by LC/MS.