The synthesis and identification of previously unreported artefacts formed during phosgene-contaminated chloroform extraction of amphetamine-type substances

Abstract

Amphetamine-type substances (ATS) are the most common illicit drugs synthesised in domestic clandestine laboratories. Liquid-liquid extraction of exhibits remains a key step in the analysis of exhibits, with chloroform often the solvent of choice in clandestine laboratory analysis. The decomposition of chloroform to phosgene is well known, with artefacts from extraction with phosgene-contaminated chloroform reported in the literature. This laboratory has observed artefacts upon the phosgene-contaminated chloroform extraction of ATS, some of which are in contrast to those reported in the literature by previous authors and which were not identified in the current literature.This paper presents the synthesis and characterisation of the previously unreported artefacts 1-methyl-2-phenethyl isocyanate, N,N'-bis(1-methyl-2-phenethyl) urea, N,N'-bis(1-methyl-2-phenylethyl)-N,N'-dimethylurea, 1-methyl-2-(3,4-methylenedioxy-phenyl)ethyl isocyanate and N,N'-bis(1-methyl-2-(3,4-methylene-dioxyphenyl)ethyl)-N,N'-dimethylurea from amphetamine, methylamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), respectively.