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Published in: Forensic Toxicology 1/2019

Open Access 01-01-2019 | Short Communication

Crystal structures and other properties of ephedrone (methcathinone) hydrochloride, N-acetylephedrine and N-acetylephedrone

Authors: Piotr Kuś, Hubert Hellwig, Joachim Kusz, Maria Książek, Marcin Rojkiewicz, Aleksander Sochanik

Published in: Forensic Toxicology | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

Three compounds obtained from ephedrine were identified and characterized by various instrumental analytical methods. Ephedrone (methcathinone) hydrochloride and its fundamental derivatives N-acetylephedrine and N-acetylephedrone were analyzed as precursors of a cathinone derivative.

Methods

The obtained samples were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography.

Results

The three compounds were confirmed as: N-methyl-2-amino-1-phenylpropan-1-one (methcathinone) hydrochloride, N-acetyl-N-methyl-2-amino-1-phenylpropan-1-one (cathinone derivative), and N-acetyl-N-methyl-2-amino-1-phenylpropan-1-ol (acetyl derivative of ephedrine).

Conclusions

X-ray crystallography is especially useful for identifying the new designer drugs and their different precursor forms.
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Metadata
Title
Crystal structures and other properties of ephedrone (methcathinone) hydrochloride, N-acetylephedrine and N-acetylephedrone
Authors
Piotr Kuś
Hubert Hellwig
Joachim Kusz
Maria Książek
Marcin Rojkiewicz
Aleksander Sochanik
Publication date
01-01-2019
Publisher
Springer Singapore
Published in
Forensic Toxicology / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1860-8965
Electronic ISSN: 1860-8973
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-018-0436-7

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