A new fluorinated ketamine analog, 2-fluoro-2-oxo-PCPr, was identified in a 2025 drug seizure. Its chemical structure was determined using NMR, GC-MS, and LC-QTOF-MS. Duplicated NMR signals revealed two interconverting rotameric forms in an approximately 2:1 equilibrium, confirmed by GIAO-based DFT calculations. Metabolite profiling of abusers' urine identified pathways including glucuronidation, desaturation, hydrogenation, hydroxylation, carboxylation, and N-depropylation. The primary metabolite, nor-2-fluoro-2-oxo-PCPr, was detected in both urine and hair, suggesting it may serve as a long-term biomarker. These findings provide key data for detecting and monitoring this emerging psychoactive substance in forensic and clinical toxicology.
A white powder submitted to South Korea's National Forensic Service in early 2025 was identified as 2F-2-oxo-PCPr, a new ketamine analogue with fluorine replacing chlorine and a propyl group replacing the amine methyl group. Because ketamine produces hallucinogenic and dissociative effects by blocking NMDA receptors, this analogue may act similarly. To detect such substances in biological samples, researchers developed and validated a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneously measuring 2F-2-oxo-PCPr, 2F-2-oxo-PCE, 2F-deschloroketamine, ketamine, and their metabolites in human hair. The method met all validation criteria and was applied to hair from eight individuals suspected of using ketamine-related drugs. This is the first reported single hair-based workflow covering ketamine alongside three fluorinated analogues and their metabolites.