ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 March 2003
Page Count: 7

Identification and Quantitation of Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (NaGHB) by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
(Received 29 May 2002; accepted 19 October 2002)

Abstract

The most common means of identification of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (NaGHB) involves using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of a suitable derivative. However, these methods may be complicated by possible shifts in chemical equilibrium between gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), GHB salts and the precursor lactone, gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). This paper addresses the technique of proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H and ¹³C NMR) for the direct and accurate identification of GHB and GBL. The application of 1H NMR for GHB quantitation is also discussed.

Keywords:
forensic science, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)

Paper ID: JFS2002186
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2002186
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