Determination of the enantiomeric composition of amphetamine, methamphetamine and 3,4-methylendioxy-N-methylamphetamine in seized street drug samples from southern Germany

Losacker M, Zörntlein S, Schwarze B, Staudt S, Röhrich J, Hess C (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Drug Testing and Analysis Wiley-Blackwell

DOI: 10.1002/dta.3118

Abstract

Amphetamine (speed), methamphetamine (crystal meth), and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) represent the most frequently abused amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS). Differences in pharmacological potency and metabolism have been shown for the enantiomers of all three stimulants. Legal consequences in cases of drug possession may also differ according to the German law depending on the enantiomeric composition of the seized drug. Therefore, enantioselective monitoring of seized specimens is crucial for legal and forensic casework. Various kinds of samples of amphetamine (n = 143), MDMA (n = 94), and methamphetamine (n = 528) that were seized in southern Germany in 2019 and 2020 were analyzed for their chiral composition using different chromatographic methods. Whereas all samples of amphetamine and MDMA were racemic mixtures, the chiral composition of the methamphetamine specimens was diverse. Although the vast majority (n = 502) was present as (S)-methamphetamine, also specimens containing pure (R)-methamphetamine (n = 7) were found. Furthermore, few samples (n = 8) were of racemic nature or contained non-racemic mixtures of both enantiomers (n = 10). Because methamphetamine appears in varying enantiomeric compositions, any seizure should be analyzed using an enantioselective method. Amphetamine and MDMA, on the other hand, currently appear to be synthesized exclusively via racemic pathways and are not chirally purified. Nevertheless, regular monitoring of the chiral composition should be ensured.

Authors with CRIS profile

Bernd Schwarze Lehrstuhl für Rechtsmedizin Svenja Lingner Lehrstuhl für Rechtsmedizin

Involved external institutions

Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU) DE Germany (DE) Landeskriminalamt Rheinland-Pfalz DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Losacker, M., Zörntlein, S., Schwarze, B., Staudt, S., Röhrich, J., & Hess, C. (2021). Determination of the enantiomeric composition of amphetamine, methamphetamine and 3,4-methylendioxy-N-methylamphetamine in seized street drug samples from southern Germany. Drug Testing and Analysis. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dta.3118

MLA:

Losacker, Moritz, et al. "Determination of the enantiomeric composition of amphetamine, methamphetamine and 3,4-methylendioxy-N-methylamphetamine in seized street drug samples from southern Germany." Drug Testing and Analysis (2021).

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