ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 3

Identification of N-Acetylmethamphetamine in a Sample of Illicitly Synthesized Methamphetamine
Baker, AT
Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Scientific Officer, University of Technology,

Fryirs, B
Technical Officer, Royal North Shore Hospital,

Conn, C
Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Scientific Officer, University of Technology,

Keegan, J
Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Scientific Officer, University of Technology,

Dawson, M
Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Scientific Officer, University of Technology,

(Received 26 January 1995; accepted 7 November 1995)

Abstract

Analysis of illicit methamphetamine samples revealed the presence of a hitherto unreported impurity. This was identified as N-acetylmethamphetamine by synthesis and GC-MS. This impurity is believed to arise by transesterification of methamphetamine during reflux with propyl acetate. Other circumstantial evidence and intelligence data indicate that propyl acetate was used to increase yields of methamphetamine hydrochloride by azeotropic removal of water remaining after salt formation with aqueous hydrochloric acid.

Keywords:
forensic science, methamphetamine, N-acetylmethamphetamine, drug identification, controlled substance, illicit drug manufacture, street drug, chemistry

Paper ID: JFS13969J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13969J
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