ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 7

Novel Chlorinated Tropanes Derived from the Treatment of Cocaine with Sodium Hypochlorite
Cooper, DA
Senior Research Chemists, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, U.S. DEA, VA

Casale, JF
Senior Research Chemists, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, U.S. DEA, VA

Moore, JM
Senior Research Chemists, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, U.S. DEA, VA

(Received 27 December 1994; accepted 22 February 1995)

Abstract

Several novel chlorinated tropanes were produced when cocaine was treated with aqueous sodium hypochlorite. Two of these, 2′- and 3′-chlorobenzoyloxy-2-carbomethoxypseudotropine (that is, ortho- and meta-chlorococaine), were characterized by synthesis and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Four other new chlorinated tropanes (endo-6- and 7-chlorococaine, exo-6- or 7-chlorococaine and N-chlorobenzoylnorecgonine methyl ester) were also tentatively identified via their gas chromatography retention data and mass spectra. The results are of potential use in cocaine signature and comparative analysis.

Keywords:
criminalistics, cocaine, coca alkaloids, chlorococaine, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry

Paper ID: JFS15391J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15391J
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