δ13C and δ2H isotope ratios in amphetamine synthesized from benzaldehyde and nitroethane

Michael Collins, Helen Salouros, Adam Cawley, James Robertson, Aaron Heagney, Andrea Arenas-Queralt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Previous work in these laboratories and by Butzenlechner et al. and Culp et al. has demonstrated that the delta(2)H isotope value of industrial benzaldehyde produced by the catalytic oxidation of toluene is profoundly positive, usually in the range +300 per thousand to +500 per thousand. Synthetic routes leading to amphetamine, methylamphetamine or their precursors and commencing with such benzaldehyde may be expected to exhibit unusually positive delta(2)H values. Results are presented for delta(13)C and delta(2)H isotope values of 1-phenyl-2-nitropropene synthesized from an industrial source of benzaldehyde, having a positive delta(2)H isotope value, by a Knoevenagel condensation with nitroethane. Results are also presented for delta(13)C and delta(2)H isotope values for amphetamine prepared from the resulting 1-phenyl-2-nitropropene. The values obtained were compared with delta(13)C and delta(2)H isotope values obtained for an amphetamine sample prepared using a synthetic route that did not involve benzaldehyde. Finally, results are presented for samples of benzaldehyde, 1-phenyl-2-nitropropene and amphetamine that had been seized at a clandestine amphetamine laboratory.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1653-1658
Number of pages6
JournalRapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry
Volume24
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes

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