Synthesis, full chemical characterisation and development of validated methods for the quantification of (±)-4'-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone): a new "legal high”


Authors

E Y Santali, A K Cadogan AK, N N Daeid , K A Savage , O B Sutcliffe

Abstract

The recent global increase in the abuse of 4′-methylmethcathinone and related compounds has developed a requirement for full chemical characterisation of these products. In this work we present full synthetic and chemical characterisation data and supplemental information for mephedrone synthesised as both the hydrobromide and hydrochloride salt. Additionally we report the first fully validated chromatographic methods for the detection and quantitative analysis of the substance both in its pure form and in the presence of a number of common adulterants used in illicit drug manufacture.

Publication link

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21680127

EY Santali, A-K Cadogan, N Nic Daeid, KA Savage and OB Sutcliffe (2011) “Synthesis and full chemical characterisation of (±)-4′-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone): A new “legal high””, Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 56 (2), 246-255.