title: Analytical profiles of "legal highs" containing cathinones available in the area of Lisbon, Portugal.
abstract: Thirteen "legal highs" were purchased in different "smart shops" in the area of Lisbon, Portugal, during the month of February 2013. The samples were analyzed by a battery of analytical methods including Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF). Active ingredients were found either as single component or in mixtures in the different products. The cathinone derivative methedrone was present in three products; it is suspected to have a particular high toxicity and narrow therapeutic window linked with the methoxy group. A total of seven compounds were identified: 4-fluoromethcathinone, ethcathinone, buphedrone, methedrone, pentedrone, 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone and 4-methylethcathinone. Analytical profiles of all the samples were obtained and compared. Elemental composition of the products was obtained by XRF analysis. The inorganic profiles obtained contain useful information and can be used to distinguish and classify samples according to their origin.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Quinta da Granja, Monte de Caparica, 2829-511 Caparica, Portugal. Electronic address: rodriguez.zancajo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Victor M R
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Zancajo
authors.affiliation: WDXRFLab - Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Quinta da Granja, Monte de Caparica, 2829-511 Caparica, Portugal.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marta P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; ITQB, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, Estação Agronómica Nacional, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bronze
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Quinta da Granja, Monte de Caparica, 2829-511 Caparica, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: alvaro.lopes@campus.ul.pt.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis*; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D011174:Portugal; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D015198:Designer Drugs; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; C023665:cathinone
keywords: Cathinones; Elemental composition; Methedrone; X-ray fluorescence; “Legal highs”