title: Thin layer chromatography/fluorescence detection of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine and related compounds.
abstract: A rapid and sensitive method for the detection of six methylenedioxylatedphenethylamines, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA); 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine; N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butamine; N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-butamine; and 3,4-methylenedioxydimethylamphetamine, by thin-layer chromatography with fluorescence detection is proposed. These compounds form fluorophores on the developing plate following spraying with a reagent consisting of sodium hypochlorite, potassium hexacyanoferrate (III), and sodium hydroxide, and heating for 3 min at 100 degrees C. Blue fluorescent spots were observed under ultraviolet light in a wavelength range of 250-400 nm. The detection limits for MDMA and the above related compounds were 50 ng. The proposed method was effectively applied to the detection of MDMA in urine samples.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Crime Laboratory, Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters, 155-1 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0023, Japan. n-katoh@gd5.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Hikoto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuba
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toriba
authors.forename: Kazuichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayakawa