title: The application of capillary gas chromatography-electron capture detection in the comparative analyses of illicit cocaine samples.
abstract: The gas chromatographic detection of manufacturing impurities in illicit cocaine can be enhanced by chemical derivatization and the use of an electron-capture detector. After derivatization of illicit cocaine hydrochloride samples with heptafluorobutyric anhydride, the isolated heptafluorobutyryl derivatives of the cocaine impurities were subjected to capillary gas chromatography-electron capture detection analysis. The on-column detection of cocaine impurities at low picogram levels was possible for compounds such as N-norcocaine and other N-demethylated impurities, amidic by-products, including N-benzoylnorecgonine methyl ester and tertiary amines possessing hydroxy functions. The latter compounds include the so-called hydroxycocaine impurities, believed to be new coca leaf alkaloids. This methodology is especially suited for sample comparison analyses.
authors.affiliation: Special Testing and Research Laboratory, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, McLean, VA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons; C007924:heptafluorobutyric anhydride; D003042:Cocaine