title: Identification of alpha-phenylethylamine in judicial samples.
abstract: alpha-Phenylethylamine was recently identified in samples from several judicial cases using chromatographic (high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared detection) and spectrometric (nuclear magnetic resonance) techniques. In the first case, 1 kg of a white powder was found in a basement laboratory. It contained caffeine and more than 15% alpha-phenylethylamine. In the second case, two white powders were seized from a female. One powder consisted of pure amphetamine, and the other was a mixture of caffeine, amphetamine, and alpha-phenylethylamine. Four months later, a couple, who were known drug users, were found dead in their apartment. Urine samples of both victims contained large amounts of amphetamine together with alpha-phenylethylamine. Recently, 0.13 kg of a white powder and 0.30 kg of an orange powder were seized during a law enforcement operation. Both powders were mixtures of caffeine, amphetamine, and alpha-phenylethylamine. The data presented demonstrate the recent and unrelated repetitive occurrence of alpha-phenylethylamine in the circuit of illicit drugs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorium voor Toxicologie, Universiteit Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Van Bocxlaer
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thienpont
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: De Leenheer
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000032:analysis*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D010627:Phenethylamines; C033198:1-phenethylamine