Abstract
The rapid expansion in the number and use of new psychoactive substances presents a significant analytical challenge because highly sensitive instrumentation capable of detecting a broad range of chemical compounds in real-time with a low rate of false positives is required. A Selective Reagent Ionisation-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry (SRI-ToF-MS) instrument is capable of meeting all of these requirements. With its high mass resolution (up to m/Δm of 8000), the application of variations in reduced electric field strength (E/N) and use of different reagent ions, the ambiguity of a nominal (monoisotopic) m/z is reduced and hence the identification of chemicals in a complex chemical environment with a high level of confidence is enabled. In this study we report the use of a SRI-ToF-MS instrument to investigate the reactions of H3O+, O2+, NO+ and Kr+ with 10 readily available (at the time of purchase) new psychoactive substances, namely 4-fluoroamphetamine, methiopropamine, ethcathinone, 4-methylethcathinone, N-ethylbuphedrone, ethylphenidate, 5-MeO-DALT, dimethocaine, 5-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran and nitracaine. In particular, the dependence of product ion branching ratios on the reduced electric field strength for all reagent ions was investigated and is reported here. The results reported represent a significant amount of new data which will be of use for the development of drug detection techniques suitable for real world scenarios.
Highlights
The abuse of drugs is an important issue affecting today’s society
Product ions which have branching ratios of greater than or equal to 3% within the electric field strength (E/N) range studied have been included in the figures, because below this value there is greater uncertainty as to whether they belong to the drug or to an impurity
Results similar to those found for O2+ and NO+ were observed for the reactions with Kr+, Fig. 5(a), i.e. the same principle product ions observed across the whole E/N range, namely ions at m/z 152.09 ([M−H]+, C9H11FN+), m/z 138.07 ([M−CH3]+, C8H9FN+) and m/z 109.04 ([M−C2H6N]+, C7H6F+)
Summary
The abuse of drugs is an important issue affecting today’s society. Many drug species are controlled by law, a market for new psychoactive substances (i.e. legal highs, research chemicals, and designer drugs) which are not controlled by drug legislation, has recently emerged. These readily available drugs are increasingly being used as substitutes for prohibited drugs, especially by those who are looking for a high, but who do not wish to commit a criminal act [1]. A review of the current literature shows that most new psychoactive substances have received little scientific interest, especially substances new to the market.
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