Differentiation of the Regioisomeric 2 3 and 4-Trifluoromethylphenylpiperazines (TFMPP) by GC-IRD and GC-MS

• NCJ Number: 255299
• Author(s): Hadir. M. Maher; Tamer. Awad; C. R. Clark
• Date Published: July 2009
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2006-DN-BX-K016
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research)
• Award: Synthesis and Analytical Profiles for Regiosomeric and Isobaric Amines Related to MDMA, MDEA and MBDB: Differentiation of Drug and non-Drug Substances of Mass Spectral Equivalence.

Annotation

This article reports on a project with the goal of differentiating the regioisomeric 2-, 3-, and 4- trifluoromethylphenylpiperazines (TEMPP) by GC-IRD and GC-MS.

Abstract

Gas chromatography with infrared detection (GC-IRD) provides direct confirmatory data for the identification of the psychoactive designer drug 3-trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (3-TFMPP) from the regioisomeric 2- and 4-trifluoromethylphenylpiperazines. These three regioisomeric substances are well resolved by GC and the vapor phase infrared spectra clearly differentiate among the three trifluoromethylphenyl substitution patterns; however, the mass spectra for the three regioisomeric 2-, 3-, and 4-trifluoromethylphenylpiperazines are identical and do not provide structural confirmation for one of the three isomers to the exclusion of the other two compounds. Perfluoroacylation of the secondary amine nitrogen for each of the three regioisomers was conducted in an effort to individualize their mass spectra. The resulting derivatives were resolved by GC, and their mass spectra showed some differences in relative abundance of fragment ions without the appearance of any unique fragments for specific confirmation of structure. (publisher abstract modified)