METHCATHINONE Latest Revision: July 11, 2005
O
CH3
HN CH3
1. SYNONYMS
CFR: Methcathinone
CAS #: Base: 5650-44-2 Hydrochloride: 49656-78-2
Other Names: N-methylcathinone Methylcathinone 2-Methylamino-1-phenyl-1-propanone -Methylaminopropiophenone -N-methylaminopropiophenone Monomethylpropion Ephedrone 2-(Methylamino)-1-phenylpropan-1-one
2. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL DATA
2.1. CHEMICAL DATA Form Chemical Formula Molecular Weight Melting Range (°C)
Base C10H13NO 163.2 Liquid at room temperature
Hydrochloride C10H13NO.HCl 199.6 176-177
2.2. SOLUBILITY Form A C E H M W Base SS FS SS I FS SS
Hydrochloride VSS FS I I FS FS
A = acetone, C = chloroform, E = ether, H = hexane, M = methanol and W = water, VS = very soluble, FS = freely soluble, S = soluble, PS = sparingly soluble, SS = slightly soluble, VSS = very slightly soluble and I = insoluble
3. SCREENING TECHNIQUE
3.1. COLOR TESTS
REAGENT COLOR PRODUCED
Marquis No reaction
Sodium Nitroprusside Slight ppt. of blue flecks or blue ring formed
Chen’s Slow forming yellow-orange
Janovsky Brownish red
3.2. GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
Method MCAT-GCS1
Instrument: Gas chromatograph operated in split mode with FID
Column: 5% phenyl/95% methyl silicone 10 m x 0.25 mm x 0.25 µm
Carrier gas: Helium at 1.0 mL/min
Temperatures: Injector: 275°C Detector: 280°C Oven program: 1) 100°C initial temperature 2) Ramp to 295°C at 35°C/min 3) Hold final temperature for 6.43 min
Injection Parameters: Split Ratio = 100:1, 1 µL injected
Samples are to be dissolved in appropriate solvent and filtered.
COMPOUND RRT COMPOUND RRT pseudoephedrine 0.14 guaifenesin 1.11 tridecane 0.22 acetaminophen 1.18
methamphetamine 0.55 phenacetin 1.23
MDMA 0.69 dimethyl sulfone 1.33
amphetamine 0.74 caffeine 1.73
methcathinone 1.00 (3.07 min) dextromethorphan 2.67
3.3. CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS
Method MCAT-CES1
Buffer Preparation: Tris-phosphate buffer, pH 2.4 - Prepare by adding one drop H3PO4 per 50 mL of 25 mM Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane HCl buffer
Injection Solvent: 9:1 H20:Tris-phosphate buffer
Standard Solution Preparation: Accurately weigh and prepare a standard solution of l-methcathinone, d-methcathinone, l-pseudoephedrine, d- ephedrine, l-ephedrine, d-pseudoephedrine, l-methamphetamine and d-methamphetamine using approximately 1.0 mg of racemic mixture or 0.5 mg of an individual enantiomer in 10 mL of injection solvent.
Sample Preparation: Accurately weigh an amount of sample and dilute with injection solvent to an approximate concentration of 0.05 mg/mL.
Mode: Free zone
Column: 82 cm (60 cm effective length) x 50 µm fused silica capillary
Run Buffer: 1.2% MeOH, 98.8% 1mM -cyclodextrin-sulfobutylether (IV) [ -CD- SBE(IV)] in 25 mM Tris-phosphate buffer, pH 2.4
Detector: UV, 210 nm
Voltage: 30 kV
Temperature: 30°C
Injection: 0.5 s hydrodynamic
Run Time: 16 min
Rinse Time: 2 min
COMPOUND RMT COMPOUND RMT l-pseudoephedrine 0.16 d-methcathinone 1.00 (10.23 min) l-methcathinone 0.43 d-pseudoephedrine 1.27 d-ephedrine 0.70 l-methamphetamine 2.59 l-ephedrine 0.93 d-methamphetamine 3.27
4. EXTRACTION TECHNIQUES
Because Methcathinone is sensitive to strong base, it is preferred that saturated sodium carbonate (pH 11) be used to basify aqueous mixtures prior to extraction.
Chloroform and methylene chloride are suitable extraction solvents. Shaking the basified aqueous solution with one of these solvents will transfer the methcathinone as the free base into the organic solvent. The solvent should then be passed through a layer of anhydrous sodium sulfate to remove any residual basic aqueous phase. Addition of 2-propanol or ethanol:hydrochloric acid mixture (4:1) to the extracted base, and subsequent solvent evaporation with a steam bath, is suitable to provide the hydrochloride salt.
5. QUANTITATIVE PROCEDURE
5.1. GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
Method MCAT-GCQ
Internal Standard Solution (ISS): 1.00 mg/mL Tetradecane in methylene chloride.
Standard Solution Preparation: Prepare a standard solution of Methcathinone HCl between 0.4 and 4.56 mg/mL with ISS as solvent.
Sample Preparation: Accurately weigh an amount of sample into an appropriately sized volumetric flask so the final concentration of Methcathinone HCl is approximately equivalent to that of the standard solution. Dilute to volume with ISS.
Instrument: Gas chromatograph operated in split mode with FID
Column: HP-1 or equivalent, 30 m x 0.25 mm x 0.25 µm film thickness
Carrier gas: Hydrogen at 2.8 mL/min
Temperatures: Injector: 265°C Detector: 275°C Oven: 130°C Isothermal for 5 min
Injection Parameters: Split Ratio = 50:1, 1 µL injected
Typical Retention Time: 2.712 min
Linear Range: 0.40 - 4.56 mg/mL
Repeatability: %RSD less than 4%
Correlation Coefficient: 0.9997
Accuracy: %Error less than 5%
COMPOUND RRT
methamphetamine 0.629
methcathinone 1.00
pseudoephedrine 1.158
tetradecane 1.421
The adulterants guaifenesin, diphenhydramine, dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine had retention times greater than 5 min.
6. QUALITATIVE DATA
6.1. INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY (FT-IR)
Both sample and standard should be subjected to the same procedures, using either KBr pellet or ATR accessory.
6.2. NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE (NMR)
A solution of approximately 10 to 20 mg sample to 1 mL deuterated solvent is an acceptable concentration for use on the NMR instrument.
6.3. FT-RAMAN SPECTROPHOTOMETRY (FT-RAMAN)
No sample preparation is needed unless two or more active substances are in a sample.
6.4. GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY/MASS SPECTROMETRY (GC/MS) The same parameters from separation method MCAT-GCS1 can be utilized on a GC/MS system with the MS detector temperature at 280°C
See spectra on the following pages for FT-IR, NMR, FT-Raman, and MS.
7. REFERENCES
Clarke, E.G.C. ed., Isolation and Identification of Drugs, 2nd Edition, The Pharmaceutical Press, 1986.
Dal Cason, T., “The Identification of Cathinone and Methcathinone,”Microgram, December 1992, pp. 10-29
Drug Enforcement Administration Basic Training for Forensic Drug Chemists Lurie, I., et al., “Chiral Resolution of Cationic Drugs of Forensic Interest by Capillary Electrophoresis with Mixtures of Neutral and Anionic Cyclodextrins,” Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 66, No. 22, Nov. 15, 1994, pp. 4019-26.
Moffat, A. C., Sr. ed., Clarke's Isolation and Identification of Drugs, The Pharmaceutical Press, Second Edition, 1996.
O’Neil, M. ed., The Merck Index, 13th Edition, Merck and Co., Inc., 2001, p. 1067.
8. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Wikipedia
FTIR: Methcathinone hydrochloride, KBr pellet 16 Scans, resolution 4.0, 4.0 mg/100 mg
50
45
40
35
30
13 60.72
%Transmittance 15 97.20
25
97 5.99
14 69.31
12 44.90 24 54.76 20
15
27 08.62 70 0.19
10 16 91.62
3000 2000 1500 1000 500 Wavenumbers (cm-1)
FTIR: Methcathinone base, KBr pellet 16 Scans, resolution 4.0, 4.0 mg/100 mg 105
100
95
90
85
80
75 29 74.27 70
65
60 30 58.22
96 1.47 12 35.23
%Transmittance 55
50 16 82.97
14 46.89 10 23.81
45 13 71.61
40
16 37.06 10 67.74
35
14 01.27 70 3.68 30
25 15 95.41 15 51.08
20 76 3.29 3000 2000 1500 1000 500 Wavenumbers (cm-1)
FTIR (ATR 1-bounce): Methcathinone hydrochloride 16 Scans, resolution 4.0
96
94
92
90 26 98.86
88
90 0.36
12 43.85 65 7.93
86
16 88.97 97 4.97
84 %Transmittance 82 52 8.14
80 53 2.42
78
76 54 1.79
74
72 69 8.58 3000 20002000 1500 1000 Wavenumbers (cm-1)
FTIR (ATR 1-bounce): Methcathinone base 16 Scans, resolution 4.0
100
95
90
85 30 59.10 80 29 72.18
75
70 10 66.00
65 12 01.74 16 81.80
60 96 0.17
14 46.13 15 58.61
55 11 22.50 12 33.94
50
10 00.95
53 8.85
%Transmittance 15 96.88
45 13 67.52 78 9.01
40 60 8.68
35 16 38.14
30 67 0.29 25
20 69 9.05 15
10 76 1.58 3000 20002000 1500 1000 71 9.54 Wavenumbers (cm-1)
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (proton): Methcathinone HCl 10 mg/mL in CD3OD 400 MHz
1.0 No. (ppm) 1 1.57 0.9 2 1.59 3 2.78 4 3.30 0.8 5 3.30 6 3.31 0.7 7 4.87 8 5.11 9 5.13 0.6 10 7.58 11 7.60 12 7.62 0.5 0.15 0.15 13 7.72 0.10 14 7.74 0.10 NormalizedIntensity 0.4 15 8.05
0.05 0.05 16 8.05 NormalizedInt...
NormalizedInten... 17 8.07 0.3 8.00 7.75 5.1 5.0 4.9 4.8 18 8.07 Chemical Shift (ppm) Chemical Shift (ppm)
0.2
0.1
8.5 8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0 Chemical Shift (ppm)
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (carbon): Methcathinone HCl 15 mg/mL in CD3OD 100 MHz
1.0 No. (ppm) 1 14.98 2 30.51 0.9 3 47.17 4 47.38 0.8 5 47.59 1.00 6 47.81 0.3 0.75 7 48.02 0.7 0.2 0.50 8 48.23 9 48.45
0.1 0.25 Normalized... 0.6 NormalizedInt... 10 59.46 129.5 128.5 49 48 47 46 11 128.79 Chemical Shift (ppm) Chemical Shift (ppm) 12 129.18 0.5 13 133.02 14 134.85 15 195.89
NormalizedIntensity 0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Chemical Shift (ppm)
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (proton): Methcathinone HCl 14 mg/mL in CDCl3 400 MHz
1.0
0.9 No. (ppm) 1 1.76 2 1.77 0.8 3 2.85 4 2.86 0.7 5 2.88 6 5.05 0.50 7 5.05 0.6 8 5.07 9 7.26 0.25 10 7.47 0.5
11 7.48 NormalizedIntensity 12 7.50 8.00 7.75 7.50 7.25 NormalizedIntensity 0.4 13 7.60 Chemical Shift (ppm) 14 7.62 15 7.64 0.3 16 7.92 17 7.93 18 7.93 0.2 19 7.95
0.1
8.5 8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 Chemical Shift (ppm)
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (carbon): Methcathinone HCl 15 mg/mL in CDCl3 100 MHz
1.0 No. (ppm) 1 16.32 2 31.82 0.9 3 59.66 4 76.93 0.8 5 77.24 6 77.56 7 129.12 0.7 1.00 8 129.38 0.75 9 133.18 0.6 0.50 10 134.89 0.25 11 195.22
0.5 NormalizedInte... 135.0 132.5 130.0 Chemical Shift (ppm)
0.4 NormalizedIntensity
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 -20 Chemical Shift (ppm)
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (proton): Methcathinone base 10 mg/mL in CD3OD 400 MHz
1.0
0.9
No. (ppm) 0.8 1 1.28 2 1.30 0.7 3 2.23 4 2.35 5 2.67 0.6 0.10 6 3.30 7 3.30 0.5 8 3.30 0.05 9 3.31 10 3.31 NormalizedIntensity 0.4 11 3.58 NormalizedIntensity 12 3.75 0.3 0 13 4.88 14 7.53 0.2 8.00 7.75 7.50 7.25 15 8.00 Chemical Shift (ppm) 16 8.00 17 8.02 0.1
8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 Chemical Shift (ppm)
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (proton): Methcathinone base 20 mg/mL in CDCl3 400 MHz 0.45 No. (ppm) 1 2.07 2 2.11 3 2.22 0.40 4 2.24 5 2.39 6 2.79 0.35 7 2.97 8 3.02 9 3.57 10 3.67 0.30 11 3.78 12 3.89 13 7.26 14 7.32 0.25 15 7.33 16 7.34 17 7.35 0.20 18 7.44 19 7.46 20 7.51 NormalizedIntensity 21 7.52 0.15 22 7.52 23 7.52 24 7.53 0.10 25 7.53 26 7.55 27 8.05 28 8.06 0.05 29 8.07
0
8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 Chemical Shift (ppm)
FT RAMAN: Methcathinone HCl 64 Scans, resolution 8.0 11
10 10 00.36
30 65.19 15 96.36 9
8 16 89.09
7
6
5
29 62.67 Raman intensity
4
3
2
1
0 3000 20002000 1500 1000 500 Raman shift (cm-1)
FT-RAMAN: Methcathinone Base 64 Scans, resolution 8.0
3.4
3.2 10 00.75
3.0 10 28.67
2.8
2.6
2.4 16 40.28
2.2 30 62.89
2.0 15 97.75
1.8
1.6 Raman intensity 1.4
1.2 29 29.71
1.0 14 48.50
0.8
15 41.14 61 6.91
0.6
11 75.73 13 69.18
0.4
0.2 0.0 3000 20002000 1500 1000 500 Raman shift (cm-1)
MS: Methcathinone HCl in Chloroform