A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method can simultaneously identify 35 substances, including 31 new designer drugs plus cathinone, methcathinone, phencyclidine, and ketamine. The method covers amphetamine derivatives (e.g., 2C-B, DOB, PMA), tryptamine derivatives (e.g., DMT, 5MeO-DMT), and piperazine derivatives (e.g., BZP, mCPP). After solid-phase extraction and gradient elution, detection limits range from 1.0 to 5.0 ng/mL, matrix effects from 65% to 118%, and extraction efficiencies from 72% to 90%. The assay is selective for all tested substances.
The hallucinogenic drugs 25C-NBOMe and 25I-NBOMe are primarily broken down in the body by O-demethylation, followed by O-di-demethylation and hydroxylation. All methoxy groups could be demethylated; hydroxylation occurred mainly on the NBOMe ring. Phase I metabolites were extensively conjugated with glucuronic acid and sulfate in human urine. Specific and abundant urine targets for detecting 25C-NBOMe are 5'-desmethyl 25C-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe, and 5-hydroxy 25C-NBOMe; for 25I-NBOMe, they are 2' and 5'-desmethyl 25I-NBOMe and hydroxy 25I-NBOMe. These findings can aid clinical and forensic laboratories in developing analytical methods and interpreting results.