Methods for the analysis of 1-(3,4-methylenedioxy-phenyl)-2-butanamine and N-methyl-1-(3,4-methyl-enedioxyphenyl)-2-propanamine (MDMA)

The infrared and mass spectra of N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-propanamine (MDMA) and 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine are quite similar. These two compounds differ only in the position of substitution of a single methyl group. MDMA is a controlled street drug known as Ecstasy, while the isomeric butanamine is a member of a new class of potential psychotherapeutic agents called entactogens. These two compounds produce similar mass spectral fragmentation patterns including a common base peak at m/z 58. Reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RPLC) methods consisting of a C18 stationary phase and an aqueous scidic mobile phase were used to separate these two compounds. Thus, LC methods can be used to differentiate MDMA from the isomeric butanamine for forensic analysis.