Identification and quantification of synthetic cannabinoids in ‘spice-like’ herbal mixtures: Update of the German situation in summer 2018

[Display omitted] •Identification and quantification of 5F-ADB, Cumyl-PeGaClone and 5F-Cumyl-PeGaClone in herbal smoking mixtures.•Full physico-chemical characterization of the new 5F-Cumyl-PeGaClone.•GC–MS quantification of all synthetic cannabinoids using JWH-018 as internal standard. In June 2018, 15 ‘Spice-like’ herbal products from German language internet shops were analyzed. In total, three different synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Two of the active ingredients were identified as the recently described 5F-ADB and Cumyl-PeGaClone. The third compound was identified as the so far unknown SC 5F-Cumyl-PeGaClone. 5F-Cumyl-PeGaClone was subject to an in-depth characterization by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), electron ionization mass spectrometry (EI–MS), electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI–MS/MS), infrared and uItraviolet–visible spectroscopy (IR and UV/Vis). In addition, all SCs in all products were quantified by a GC–MS method using JWH-018 as internal standard and corresponding response factors. While Cumyl-PeGaClone and 5F-ADB were detected in one, respectively two products, the newly identified 5F-Cumyl-PeGaClone was detected as the only active ingredient in the remaining twelve products. The SC content ranged from 14.7 to 76.2mg/g (average: 32.1mg/g).