Stable isotope characterisation of 3,4‐methylenedioxyphenyl‐2‐propanone and 3,4‐methylenedioxyamphetamine prepared from piperonal

Rationale Stable isotopic ratios can provide information for illicit drug profiling. The research presented here investigated the variations in stable isotopic ratios of hydrogen (δ2H), carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N) and oxygen (δ18O) during the synthesis of MDP2P (3,4‐methylenedioxyphenyl‐2‐propanone) and MDA (3,4‐methylenedioxyamphetamine) prepared via the ‘nitrostyrene’ route. Methods Samples of MDA and MDP2P were synthesised from two isotopically characterised starting materials, piperonal and nitroethane. The isotopic compositions of the nitrostyrene intermediate (3,4‐methylenedioxyphenyl‐2‐nitropropene, MDP2NP) and products MDP2P and MDA were also measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Results A significantly negative change occurred to δ2H values during the production of MDP2NP, MDP2P and MDA, indicating a mechanism that favours inclusion or retention of 1H over 2H. This suggests that the δ2H compositions of MDA/MDP2P prepared from piperonal will not provide information on the synthetic history. Minimal changes were observed in δ13C composition during the synthesis of MDP2NP, MDP2P and MDA, and minimal δ15N compositional changes occurred in MDP2NP and MDA. Progressing from piperonal to MDP2NP, a minimal change occurred to δ18O composition. A variable change to δ18O was observed from MDP2NP with one sample becoming more positive in δ18O composition and two samples becoming more negative. Progressing from MDP2NP to MDA, a significant negative change occurred to δ18O composition. Conclusions The changes to stable isotopic ratios observed during the preparation of MDA and MDP2P from piperonal may prove useful when attempting to compare batch‐to‐batch variations between seizures and provide information with tactical intelligence applications.