title: Synthesis, full chemical characterisation and development of validated methods for the quantification of (±)-4'-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone): a new "legal high".
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.
authors.affiliation: Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS), University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G40RE, UK.
authors.forename: Eman Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Santali
authors.forename: Anna-Karina
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Cadogan
authors.forename: Niamh Nic
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Daeid
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: Oliver B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Sutcliffe
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D004340:Drug Contamination; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D015394:Molecular Structure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D015198:Designer Drugs; D008694:Methamphetamine; C548233:mephedrone