The Next Generation of Synthetic Cathinone Screening Unveiled

[Paracelsus]

Researchers from Brazil have developed a electrochemical technique for detecting synthetic cathinones, a prominent class of new psychoactive substances (NPS). This innovative method employs differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) on a boron-doped diamond electrode (BDDE) to screen 15 synthetic cathinones, such as mephedrone and methylone, known for their prevalence in drug markets. Unlike traditional tests, the BDDE-DPV method offers superior sensitivity, portability, and robustness, making it a game-changer for forensic applications.

Synthetic cathinones, often referred to as "bath salts," have risen in popularity due to their potent effects and evasion of legal restrictions. Their structural diversity poses challenges for law enforcement and analytical laboratories. Standard presumptive methods like colorimetric tests are limited in scope and prone to false positives, while advanced techniques like mass spectrometry are cost-intensive and less feasible for on-site application.

The research team optimized their electrochemical setup in a Britton-Robinson buffer solution at pH 8.0, identifying two distinct reduction peaks that serve as unique electrochemical signatures for synthetic cathinones. These fingerprints enable accurate differentiation of the substances from other drugs like MDMA and cocaine. The study also applied chemometric methods, including principal component analysis, to classify cathinones into six distinct subgroups based on structural and electrochemical profiles.

The method demonstrated exceptional accuracy when tested on 46 seized samples, with results validated against liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), a gold-standard analytical technique. Impressively, the BDDE-DPV approach also detected cathinones not included in the original set, such as bupropion, benzylone, and dipentylone, highlighting its adaptability to emerging substances.

For more information, access the original research article published in Analytical Chemistry: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c04059 (clearnet).

If you're interested in such publications, please react and leave comments. This will be a sign for me to continue.

 

[tetr00]

"These fingerprints enable accurate differentiation of the substances from other drugs like MDMA and cocaine."

Is this part of this new type of screening or is this already being used?

 

[SoldadoDeDrogas]

It would be interesting to get a better understanding for how much is still unexplored and what the potential possibilities are or could be. Sasha came through and did his thing, and, single-handedly, set the standard and paved the way for generations to come.. but that road ran straight into a brick wall even while he was still alive, he got raided and then granted permission and grandfathered into his own home research lab - "more like an alchemists hangout". Then it took a while before everybody caught up with the analogs, almost like his dead-man's switch.
But I mean, he was only one man. Luckily for everybody, Ann complimented his genius rather well in my opinion, and they were able to get done exponentially together, what either of them would have done by themselves. My point is though, that everything basically stopped as far as reaching out to psychoactive unknown territory, atleast as far as the public sector is concerned. Anything to do with chemistry and you're lit up like a christmas tree. I had so much hope for it when all the analogs and cats started coming around 2010+ and then they shut that right down indefinitely, plus any possible combination in the future. I was hoping we could play cat and mouse forever, with everything right at the corner store.

I am wondering, realistically, how much is there to explore? In theory, you can make any molecule with any number and arrangement of atoms and groups, rotations, isomers and so on and go in infinitely. But ...At what point is it just.. "TOO MUCH" ? And it is either not possible or weird things start happening or what? What would happen if you had to deal with LSD-2,225? Or when you have synthetic noid structures that you need a whole chalkboard to draw? When you are 50 steps from the closest available precursor? What could we expect of molecules so large that were intended to be psychoactive? I would be interested to hear what the state of affairs is with the most current frontier research analogs as far as how we interact with them, short and long term. Sorry, kind of off topic with all of that.

Meanwhile, We've got a damn war going on against plants and herbs and fungus and all kinds of concoctions.... powders, pills and potions, some crystals and a poor little old bufo toad toad.

 

[luquit0@d]

I feel your pain **

 

[robby771]

That’s actually a huge step for forensic labs. BDDE-DPV could make field testing much faster and cheaper compared to standard LC-MS.