Test purchase, identification and synthesis of 2-amino-1-(4-bromo-2, 5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethan-1-one (bk-2C-B).
John D. Power, Pierce V. Kavanagh, John O'Brien, Michael Barry, Brendan Twamley, Brian Talbot, Geraldine Dowling, Simon D. Brandt
Drug Testing and Analysis June 1, 2015 DOI: 10.1002/dta.1699 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Analytical chemistry study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Beta keto-phenethylamines Bk-2c-b Cathinones New psychoactive substances Designer drugs Novel psychoactive substances Emerging drugs Forensic analysis Drug identification Chemical analysis Analytical methods Forensic science Drug detection Chemical synthesis Drug synthesis Laboratory synthesis Reference material synthesis Phenethylamine derivatives Substituted phenethylamines Designer phenethylamines |
| Citations | 12 |
| Key points | The purchased bk-2C-B was confirmed as a hydrochloride and hydrobromide salt mixture, and its synthesis via the Delépine reaction was validated. |
Abstract
2-Amino-1-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethan-1-one (bk-2C-B) has been recently offered for purchase by a variety of Internet retailers. This substance may be considered a cathinone analogue of the phenethylamine 2-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethan-1-amine (2C-B) which suggests that it may have psychoactive effects in humans. A test purchase of bk-2C-B was carried out and its identity was confirmed by a range of analytical techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas and liquid chromatography, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Confirmation was also obtained from the synthesis of bk-2C-B based on the implementation of the Delépine reaction in which the α-brominated intermediate was reacted with hexamethylenetetramine to afford the primary amine. Analysis of underivatized bk-2C-B by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that there was potential for artificial formation of 1-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanone and a pyrazine dimer, these substances were not detected when employing liquid chromatographic analysis. Ion chromatography and X-ray crystallography analysis confirmed that the purchased bk-2C-B consisted of a hydrochloride and hydrobromide salt mixture, which indicated that it might have been prepared by the hexamethylenetetramine route followed by hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of the quaternary ammonium salt. X-ray crystallography also revealed that the purchased (mixed HCl/HBr salt) and synthesized bk-2C-B (HCl salt) exists as polymorphs.