title: Chemiluminescence detection of MDMA in street drug samples using tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(III).
abstract: Tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chemiluminescence was investigated for the detection of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and several related compounds in street drug samples. Optimization using flow injection analysis showed that the selectivity of the reagent can be targeted towards the detection of secondary amines by altering the pH of the reaction environment. The greater selectivity of this mode of detection, compared to UV-absorbance, reduces the probability of false positive results from interfering compounds. The detection limit for MDMA under these conditions was 0.48 μM. A HPLC method incorporating post-column tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chemiluminescence detection was applied to the determination of MDMA in five street drug samples. The results obtained were in good agreement with quantification performed using traditional UV-absorbance detection, which demonstrates the viability of this method for confirmatory analysis of drug samples. This is the first report of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chemiluminescence for the detection of MDMA and related amphetamine derivatives.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia.
authors.forename: Ashton G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Theakstone
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia.
authors.forename: Zoe M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia.
authors.forename: Neil W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Francis
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000737:chemistry*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000032:analysis*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C415768:tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II); D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
keywords: MDMA; amphetamine derivatives; chemiluminescence detection; high performance liquid chromatography; street drug samples