Liquid Chromatographic and Spectral Methods for the Differentiation of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) from Regioisomeric Phenethylamines

Abstract

The analytical profiles are described for four amines, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and three isomeric phen-ethylamines of MW = 193. These four amines all contain an identical 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl moiety, thus the regioisomerism is within the carbon-carbon bond located alpha to the amine. Therefore these phenethylamines are regioisomeric within the imine fragment (m/z = 58) which is the base peak in the electron impact mass spectrum of MDMA. The ultraviolet absorption spectra for these compounds show the characteristic methylenedioxyphenyl group absorption bands in the 235 to 280 nm range. These amines may best be differentiated by chromatographic separation and are well resolved by liquid chromatographic techniques. The four regioisomeric amines were separated using an isocratic reversed-phase system consisting of a C₁₈ stationary phase and an acidic (pH) mobile phase. The elution order under these conditions appears to parallel the length of the carbon chain attached to the aromatic ring.