Structure Assignment of Seized Products Containing Cathinone Derivatives Using High Resolution Analytical Techniques

The innovation of the new psychoactive substances (NPS) market requires rapid identification that can be a risk to public health, in order reduce damage from their use. Twelve seized products suspected contain illicit were analyzed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Synthetic cathinones (SCat) found all products, either as single component or mixtures. Infrared spectra consistent with molecular structure SCat, showing an intense absorption band at 1700–1674 cm?1, corresponding carbonyl stretching, medium/strong peak 1605–1580 indicating stretching vibrations aromatic ring (C=C) bands relative low intensity frequencies near 2700–2400 amine salt. It was possible identify eight cathinone derivatives GC-MS NMR analysis: 4?-methyl-?-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (MPHP), ?-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (?-PHP), 3-fluoromethcathinone (3-FMC), methedrone, methylone, buphedrone, N-ethylcathinone, pentedrone. Among adulterants these samples, caffeine most frequently detected substance, followed ethylphenidate. These results highlight prevalence SCat materials Portuguese market. Reference standards are usually required for confirmation, but when reference not available, combination complementary techniques is fundamental unequivocal such substances.