Vibrational analysis of new hallucinogenic amphetamines based on ATR-FTIR spectra

Abstract

According to the latest European Drug Report (2016), the illicit drug market witnesses a revival of the production and demand of hallucinogenic amphetamines. The availability of new (online) alternative sources of precursors and the discovery of new production methods have resulted in an illicit market that is especially characterized by product diversity. Thus, analytical efforts allowing the continuous up-dating of the databases incorporating the profile of the newest products seized during law enforcement operations are highly needed.

We are presenting, in a structured manner, the ATR-FTIR spectral profile of a series of new hallucinogenic amphetamines. Their characterization and vibrational analysis is done in comparison with the most representative compounds of this family of drugs of abuse, i.e. MDA (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine) and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine).