Journal of Forensic Medicine ›› 2024, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (6): 550-556.DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2024.340103

Special Issue: 高分辨质谱技术专题

• Topic on High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Technology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Identification of a Novel Synthetic Cathinone CMMP

Si-yang HE1(), Qian-ya DENG1, Shui-qing ZHENG1,2, Chun-fang NI1,2, Wen-juan SUN1, Fang-qi CAO3, Chen LIANG1,2, Fei-jun GONG1,2()   

  1. 1.Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Institute of Forensic Science, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 200083, China
    2.Shanghai Police College, Shanghai 200137, China
    3.Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Shanghai 200072
  • Received:2024-01-17 Online:2025-03-10 Published:2024-12-25
  • Contact: Fei-jun GONG

Abstract:

Objective To establish a method to identify an unknown substance based on the combined use of gas chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF-MS), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS)and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Methods The unknown substance was dissolved in methanol and was detected by GC-QTOF-MS and UPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS, and was dissolved in methanol-d4 to be detected by NMR. Results The main characteristics ion peaks of components with retention time of 9.67 min in GC-QTOF-MS measured were 84.080 8, 110.999 7, 128.107 0 (base peak), 138.994 7, etc. The protonated molecular ion peak m/z in UPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS was 268.109 3. It was inferred that the unknown substance was an analog of the synthetic cathinone substance 2-methyl-1-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2-morpholinopropan-1-one (MTMP) by comparing the mass spectrum information and molecular structure of MTMP. NMR analysis confirmed it as a novel N-morpholine substituted synthetic cathinone substance 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-2-morpholinopropan-1-one (CMMP). Conclusion The method established in this study can be used for structural confirmation of CMMP.

Key words: forensic medicine, toxicological analysis, new psychoactive substance (NPS), synthetic cathinones, 2-methyl-1-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2-morpholinopropan-1-one (MTMP), 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-2-morpholinopropan-1-one (CMMP), high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), N-morpholine substituted

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