Journal of Forensic Medicine ›› 2021, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (4): 511-515,523.DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.310305

Special Issue: 新精神活性物质

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Identification of New Psychoactive Tryptamines 4-OH-MET and 4-AcO-DMT Using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

DING Ke-ran1, NI Chun-fang2, HE Si-yang2, WANG Kua-dou2, DENG Qian-ya2, LIANG Chen2   

  1. 1. School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China; 2. Institute of Forensic Science, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 200083
  • Online:2021-08-25 Published:2021-08-28

Abstract: Objective To detect the uncontrolled new psychoactive tryptamines involved in drug-related cases with high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Methods White and brown powder obtained in actual cases were extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF-MS), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS) and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR). Results After detection by GC-QTOF-MS, the components of white powder showed main characteristic fragment ion peaks at m/z 218.141 0 (molecular ion peak), 72.080 6 (base peak), etc. After detection by UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS, its protonated molecular ion was m/z 219.149 4. The main ions in the secondary mass spectrum under the collision-induced dissociation (CID) mode were m/z 160.076 3 and 72.080 8. After detection by GC-QTOF-MS, the components of brown powder showed main characteristic fragment ion peaks at m/z 246.135 7 (molecular ion peak), 58.065 1 (base peak), etc. After detection by UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS, its protonated molecular ion was m/z 247.145 0. The main ions in the secondary mass spectrum under CID mode were m/z 202.087 1, 160.076 3 and 134.060 5. NIST 17 library retrieval and 1H-NMR confirmed that the white powder and brown powder contained new psychoactive tryptamines 4-OH-MET and 4-AcO-DMT, respectively. Conclusion GC-QTOF-MS, UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS and 1H-NMR can be used together to identify unknown new psychoactive substances.

Key words: forensic medicine, toxicological analysis, new psychoactive substance, tryptamine, gas chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF-MS), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS), 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR), 4-OH-MET, 4-AcO-DMT

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