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Published in: Forensic Toxicology 2/2013

01-07-2013 | Original Article

Mass spectrometric differentiation of the isomers of mono-methoxyethylamphetamines and mono-methoxydimethylamphetamines by GC–EI–MS–MS

Authors: Kei Zaitsu, Haruhiko Miyagawa, Yuki Sakamoto, Shuntaro Matsuta, Kento Tsuboi, Hiroshi Nishioka, Munehiro Katagi, Takako Sato, Michiaki Tatsuno, Hitoshi Tsuchihashi, Koichi Suzuki, Akira Ishii

Published in: Forensic Toxicology | Issue 2/2013

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Abstract

Mass spectrometric differentiation of the six isomers of mono-methoxyethylamphetamines (MeO-EAs) and mono-methoxydimethylamphetamines (MeO-DMAs) by gas chromatography–electron ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–EI–MS–MS) was investigated. Based on their EI-mass spectra, the fragment ions at m/z 121 and 72 were selected as precursor ions for their regioisomeric and structurally isomeric differentiation, respectively. Collision-induced dissociation provides intensity differences in product ions among the isomers, enabling mass spectrometric differentiation of the isomers. Furthermore, high reproducibility of the product ion spectra at the optimized collision energy was confirmed, demonstrating the reliability of the method. To our knowledge, this is the first report on mass spectrometric differentiation of the six isomers of MeO-EAs and MeO-DMAs by GC–EI–MS–MS. Isomeric differentiation by GC–EI–MS–MS has a high potential to discriminate isomers of newly encountered designer drugs, making GC–MS–MS a powerful tool in the forensic toxicology field.
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Metadata
Title
Mass spectrometric differentiation of the isomers of mono-methoxyethylamphetamines and mono-methoxydimethylamphetamines by GC–EI–MS–MS
Authors
Kei Zaitsu
Haruhiko Miyagawa
Yuki Sakamoto
Shuntaro Matsuta
Kento Tsuboi
Hiroshi Nishioka
Munehiro Katagi
Takako Sato
Michiaki Tatsuno
Hitoshi Tsuchihashi
Koichi Suzuki
Akira Ishii
Publication date
01-07-2013
Publisher
Springer Japan
Published in
Forensic Toxicology / Issue 2/2013
Print ISSN: 1860-8965
Electronic ISSN: 1860-8973
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-013-0193-6

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