Objective To establish a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for qualitative analysis of 5-methoxy-α-methyltryptamine (5-MeO-AMT) from a sample (seized of a case) detected through effective extraction and the followed GC-MS determination, together with a postulation on the mechanism of fragmentation from such a chemical molecule upon electron impacting (EI). Methods One case-seized, ingredient-unknown and oily substance, suspected of harboring 5-MeO-AMT, was aqueously dissolved into sodium hydroxide solution, afterwards added with ethyl acetate to extract the purposed chemical. Through oscillation and centrifugation, the supernatant was transferred to subject to GC-MS analysis. Results One unknown component (RT=12.754min) was detected, appearing its characteristic fragment ion peaks at m/z 161.1 (base peak), 204.2, 146.1, 130.1, 117.1 and 89.0. Matched well to the records of characteristic fragment ion peaks from Nist library and DEA report, the chemical was identified as 5-Methoxy-alpha-methyltryptamine in the tested oily substance. Furthermore, the postulated pathway of EI-induced fragmentation of 5-MeO-AMT was described with reference to relevant literatures. Conclusion A robust and reliable GC-MS approach was developed for 5-MeO-AMT to be extracted and identified, capable of being applied into relevant cases.
Key words
forensic toxicology /
5-methoxy-alpha-methyltryptamine (5-MeO-AMT) /
fragmentation pathway /
GC-MS
{{custom_keyword}} /
{{custom_sec.title}}
{{custom_sec.title}}
{{custom_sec.content}}
References
[1] BRANDT S D, FREEMAN S, FLEET I A, et al. Analytical chemistry of synthetic routes to psychoactive tryptamines-part II. Characterisation of the Speeter and Anthony synthetic route to N,N-dialkylated tryptamines using GC-EI-ITMS, ESI-TQ-MS-MS and NMR[J]. The Analyst, 2005, 130(3): 330-344.
[2] 赵彦彪,郑珲,高利生,等. 新型毒品N-甲基-N-异丙基-5-甲氧基色胺片剂的GC-MS检验方法研究[J]. 刑事技术,2017, 42(3): 203-205.
(ZHAO Yanbiao, ZHENG Hui, GAO Lisheng, et al. Identification of tablet-formulized N-methyl-N-isopropyl-5-methoxytryptamine with GC/MS[J]. Forensic Science and Technology, 2017, 42(3): 203-205.)
[3] NAGAI F, NONAKA R, KAMIMURAK S H. The effects of non-medically used psychoactive drugs on monoamine neurotransmission in rat brain[J]. European Journal of Pharmacology, 2006, 559:132-137.
[4] GATCH M B, FORSTER M J, JANOWSKY A, et al. Abuse liability profile of three substituted tryptamines[J]. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2011, 338(1): 280-289.
[5] ABIERO A, BOTANAS C J, SAYSON L V, et al. 5-Methoxy-alpha-methyltryptamine (5-MeO-AMT), a tryptamine derivative, induces head-twitch responses in mice through the activation of serotonin receptor 2a in the prefrontal cortex[J]. Behavioural Brain Research, 2019, 359: 828-835.
[6] ROBERTA TITTARELLI R, MANNOCCHI G, PANTANO F, et al. Recreational use, analysis and toxicity of tryptamines[J]. Current Neuropharmacology, 2015, 13:24-26.
[7] 黑海,王继芬. 色胺类新精神活性物质检验方法研究进展[J]. 化学研究与应用,2019, 31(11): 1869-1878.
(HEI Hai, WANG Jifen. Advances in the methods for detecting new psychoactive substances of tryptamine[J]. Chemical Research and Application, 2019, 31(11): 1869-1878.)
[8] KALASHO A, VIBE NIELSEN S. 5-MeO-DALT, a novel designer drug on the market causing acute delirium and rhabdomyolysis[J]. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, 2016, 60(9): 1332-1336.
[9] 刘缙,戚桓荣,钱斌,等. 气相色谱-质谱法检验新型毒品-G点液[J]. 中国法医学杂志,2019, 34(1): 102-104.
(LIU Jin, QI Huanrong, QIAN Bin, et al. GC-MS detection of the new-type drug - G-spot fluid[J]. Chinese Journal of Forensic Medicine, 2019, 34(1): 102-104.)
[10] BOLAND D M, ANDOLLO W, HIME G W, et al. Fatality due to acute α-Methyltryptamine intoxication[J]. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 2005, 29:394-397.
{{custom_fnGroup.title_en}}
Footnotes
{{custom_fn.content}}
