Alawi, A. I., Dhabbah, A. M., Morrison, C. , Ben-Jaber, S., AlAngari, W. A., Bin Jassas, M. and Badjah‑Hadj‑Ahmed, Y. (2023) Indirect chiral separation of crystal methamphetamine seized in Saudi Arabia using GC-MS. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 55(6), pp. 731-744. (doi: 10.1080/00450618.2022.2079720)
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Abstract
In the last decade, worldwide illegal production and consumption of methamphetamine (MA) has dramatically increased. MA is chiral and its two enantiomers have different biological properties, the S isomer having higher stimulating and addictive effects and therefore important to determine the enantiomeric ratio in drug seizures. The chiral separation and determination of R and S-MA may be used for characterization of the seized samples and elucidation of the illicit method of preparation. The present article aims to investigate the enantiomeric distribution of R and S methamphetamine in a series of seized samples. The enantioseparation was achieved first by derivatization of MA using L-TPC followed by separation of the resulting diastereomers using GC-MS. The optimized chromatographic method allowed baseline separation of the peaks with a resolution parameter of 2.16. While the total concentration of methamphetamine in the seized samples was between 15.09 and 213.20 mg/g, all investigated samples showed the presence of both R and S enantiomers, with a higher content of S-MA. The enantiomeric excess (ee%) was calculated to characterize each sample, the obtained values were in the range 55.27–92.38%. The results demonstrated that the seized samples originated from different batches and most likely from a stereospecific synthetic route.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Morrison, Dr Calum and Alawi, Ali |
| Authors: | Alawi, A. I., Dhabbah, A. M., Morrison, C., Ben-Jaber, S., AlAngari, W. A., Bin Jassas, M., and Badjah‑Hadj‑Ahmed, Y. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing |
| Journal Name: | Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences |
| Publisher: | Taylor and Francis |
| ISSN: | 0045-0618 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1834-562X |
| Published Online: | 30 May 2022 |
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