Updating the list of known opioids through identification and characterization of the new opioid derivative 3,4-dichloro-N-(2-(diethylamino)cyclohexyl)-N-methylbenzamide (U-49900)

Abstract

New psychoactive substances have been rapidly growing in popularity in the drug market as non-illegal drugs. In the last few years, an increment has been reported on the use of synthetic alternatives to heroin, the synthetic opioids. Based on the information provided by the European Monitoring Centre for Drug and Drug Addiction, these synthetic opioids have been related to overdoses and deaths in Europe and North America. One of these opioids is the U-47700. A few months ago, U-47700 was scheduled in the U.S. and other countries, and other opioid derivatives have been appearing in order to replace it. One of these compounds is U-49900, an analog of U-47700. A white powder sample was obtained from an anonymous user in Spain. After an accurate characterization by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and single-crystal X-ray diffraction; and complemented by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet and circular dichroism spectrophotometry, the drug sample was unequivocally identified as U-49900. The information provided will be useful for the Early Warning System and forensic laboratories for future identifications of the U-49900, as well as in tentative identifications of other related opioids.