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Profiling of seized methamphetamine putatively synthesized by reductive amination of 1-phenyl-2-propanone

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Abstract

We report a case of seized methamphetamine (MA) samples showing unique drug profiles. Conventional drug profiling such as impurity profiling and chiral analysis as well as stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) was performed on seven MA–HCl samples. The results of impurity profiling suggested that the samples were synthesized by reductive amination. The high enantiomeric purities of the samples suggested that the samples were optically resolved. The δ13C and δ15N values gave different grouping patterns from conventional drug profiling. This is the first case report of the use of IRMS with seized MA samples presumptively synthesized by reductive amination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan

    Kenji Tsujikawa, Kenji Kuwayama, Hajime Miyaguchi, Tatsuyuki Kanamori, Yuko T. Iwata & Hiroyuki Inoue

  2. Forensic Science Laboratory, Chiba Prefectural Police HQ, 1-71-1 Chuo-minato, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba, 260-0024, Japan

    Toshiyasu Mikuma

Authors
  1. Kenji Tsujikawa
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  2. Toshiyasu Mikuma
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  3. Kenji Kuwayama
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  4. Hajime Miyaguchi
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  5. Tatsuyuki Kanamori
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  6. Yuko T. Iwata
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  7. Hiroyuki Inoue
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenji Tsujikawa.

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Tsujikawa, K., Mikuma, T., Kuwayama, K. et al. Profiling of seized methamphetamine putatively synthesized by reductive amination of 1-phenyl-2-propanone. Forensic Toxicol 30, 70–75 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-011-0119-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-011-0119-0

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