[Determination of the synthetic route based on impurity profiling of methamphetamine].
OBJECTIVE
Impurity profiling of seized methamphetamine may play an important role in the determination of the synthetic method employed and the criminal investigations of drug traffic routes.


METHODS
A sample of methamphetamine was dissolved in buffer solution. Impurities were extracted with ethyl acetate containing four internal standards (n-decane, n-pentadecane, n-eicosane and n-octacosane) and analyzed by GC-MS.


RESULTS
These data are suggestive of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine as the main precursor of the methamphetamine samples seized during 2006-2007. Six samples of selected eight samples were synthesized via the more specific ephedrine/hydriodic acid/red phosphorus method.


CONCLUSIONS
Ephedrine/pseudoephedrine is common material used to synthesize methamphetamine.
Zhang
Jianxin
J
Forensic Medical examination Center of Beijing Public Security Bureau, Beijing 100085, China. zhangjianxin7292000@yahoo.com.cn
Zhang
Daming
D
Han
Xuguang
X
Yang
Shiyun
S
D002681:China; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D054199:Pseudoephedrine / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008694:Methamphetamine; D054199:Pseudoephedrine; D004809:Ephedrine