The Identification of 3,4-MDMA from Its Mass Equivalent Isomers and Isobaric Substances Using Fast LC-ESI-MS-MS

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (3,4-MDMA, “Ecstacy”) and its 17 isomers and isobaric substances are studied using liquid chromatography (LC)-positive electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (MS). 3,4-MDMA is a controlled substance, whereas in many countries the other studied isobaric compounds...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Journal of chromatographic science 2005-02, Vol.43 (2), p.92-97
Hauptverfasser: Pihlainen, Katja, Aalberg, Laura, Tepponen, Marianne, Clark, C. Randall, Kostiainen, Risto
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (3,4-MDMA, “Ecstacy”) and its 17 isomers and isobaric substances are studied using liquid chromatography (LC)-positive electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (MS). 3,4-MDMA is a controlled substance, whereas in many countries the other studied isobaric compounds are not. A method for confirmation of the presence of 3,4-MDMA in drug seizures is developed and validated. Using single MS, the compounds produce an intense protonated molecule and some characteristic fragments; but tandem MS (MS-MS) is applied to enhance specificity. The MS-MS fragmentation is studied in order to distinguish 3,4-MDMA from the other 17 related compounds. However, the MS-MS spectra of 3,4-MDMA and six related compounds are very similar. Therefore, the LC-MS-MS method is developed for the unambiguous identification of 3,4-MDMA. The use of a monolithic column allows for 5-min gradient runs. This qualitative method is tested with 49 Ecstacy samples seized by the police. All results are congruent with the ones obtained with other methods.
ISSN:0021-9665
1945-239X
DOI:10.1093/chromsci/43.2.92