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Identification and characterization of a novel cathinone derivative 1-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-5-yl)-2-phenyl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethanone seized by customs in Jersey

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Abstract

A suspicious white powder labeled “idanyl-biphenyl-amninone,” which was seized by customs officials at the "channel island" of Jersey, UK, was brought to our laboratory for identification and characterization of its structure. The elucidation process required the use of several complementary analytical techniques, including gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The unknown compound was ultimately identified as 1-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-5-yl)-2-phenyl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethanone, a novel cathinone derivative. To the best of our knowledge, this compound has not been registered in the CAS or IUPAC databases. However, it has recently been marketed on the Internet as “indapyrophenidone,” and we therefore propose this as the common name of the compound. The results of this study may serve forensic and clinical laboratories in the identification of its related compounds with similar backbone structure using the information reported in this article obtained by the application of advanced analytical techniques. It may also lead to timely and effective response on the part of legislators and law enforcement.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge financial support from Generalitat Valenciana (Group of Excellence Prometeo 2009/054, Prometeo II 2014/023; Collaborative Research on Environment and Food Safety ISIC/2012/016) and from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Project: CTQ2015-65603-P). The authors are very grateful to the Serveis Centrals d’Instrumentació Científica (SCIC) of University Jaume I (UJI) for the use of the NMR and X-ray crystallograph. They also wish to thank Wilfried Niessen (hyphenMassSpec), Gabriel Peris (SCIC), Oscar Pozo (IMIM), and Antonio Latorre (UJI) for skilful technical assistance and useful comments. B. Miserez acknowledges the European Union for his Experienced Researcher (ER) contract as part of the EU-International Training Network SEWPROF (Marie Curie-PEOPLE Grant #317205).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón, Spain

    Lubertus Bijlsma, María Ibáñez & Félix Hernández

  2. TICTAC Communications Ltd., St George’s University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK

    Bram Miserez & John Ramsey

  3. Serveis Centrals d’Instrumentacio Científica, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón, Spain

    Cristian Vicent

  4. Department Química Física I Analítica, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón, Spain

    Eva Guillamón

Authors
  1. Lubertus Bijlsma
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  2. Bram Miserez
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  3. María Ibáñez
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  4. Cristian Vicent
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  5. Eva Guillamón
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  6. John Ramsey
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  7. Félix Hernández
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Correspondence to Félix Hernández.

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Bijlsma, L., Miserez, B., Ibáñez, M. et al. Identification and characterization of a novel cathinone derivative 1-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-5-yl)-2-phenyl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethanone seized by customs in Jersey. Forensic Toxicol 34, 144–150 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-015-0299-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-015-0299-0

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