ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 8

The Identification and Quantitation of Pharmaceutical Preparations by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Raney, JK
Senior forensic chemist and forensic chemist, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, North Central Laboratory, IL

Angelos, SA
Senior forensic chemist and forensic chemist, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, North Central Laboratory, IL

Janovsky, TJ
Supervisory chemist, U.S. Drug Administration, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, VA

(Received 16 February 1990; accepted 9 April 1990)

Abstract

The identification and quantitation of pharmaceutical preparations is often the most time-consuming analysis performed in the forensic science laboratory. Because of their hygroscopic and polymorphic properties, matching infrared spectra are frequently difficult to obtain. Moreover, many of these compounds also fragment in such a manner that their mass spectra are difficult to interpret. Nuclear magnetic resonance offers an attractive alternative analysis since it avoids these problems and allows simultaneous identification and quantitation of dosage forms. Typical procedures are described for pharmaceutical forms of barbiturates, phenethylamines, quinazolones, benzodiazepines, and ethchlorvynol. This method has been successfully used and in most cases does not require a preliminary separation of the pharmaceutical preparation's components.

Keywords:
toxicology, chemical analysis, drug identification, nuclear magnetic resonance

Paper ID: JFS13038J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13038J
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