ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 January 1998
Page Count: 8

Comparative Determination of 2-Carbomethoxy-3-Alkyloxy- and Heteroaroyloxy-Substituted Tropanes in Illicit South American Cocaine Using Capillary Gas Chromatography-Single Ion Monitoring
Casale, JF
Forensic research chemists, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, Virginia

Moore, JM
Forensic research chemists, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, Virginia

Odeneal, NG
physical scientist, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, VA

(Received 11 April 1997; accepted 30 June 1997)

Abstract

Methodology is presented for the isolation and comparative determination of 16 alkyloyl and 2 heteroaroyl ecgonine methyl esters in illicit cocaine samples. These trace-level alkaloids, five of which are reported for the first time, were partially isolated from cocaine using alumina column chromatography and recrystallization and determined using capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using selected ion monitoring. Acetoxy-, propionoyl-, isobutyroyl-, butyroyl-, 2-methylbutyroyl-, isovaleroyl-, valeroyl-, senecioyl-, trans-4-hexenoyl-, tigloyl-, hexanoyl-, 3′-furanoyl-, trans-2-hexenoyl-, 2′-furanoyl-, trans-3-heptenoyl-, cis-, trans-; trans-, cis-; and trans-, trans-2,4-hexadienoyl- ecgonine methyl esters were detected at levels less than 1 × 10⁻⁵ % (w/w relative to cocaine).

Keywords:
forensic science, cocaine, tropane alkaloids, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry

Paper ID: JFS16099J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS16099J
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