Identification and quantitation of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) in human urine by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Application to five cases of intoxication

Jonathan Liu; John Decatur; Gloria Proni; Elise Champeil

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.10.022

Identification and quantitation of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) in human urine by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Application to five cases of intoxication

Forensic Sci Int. 2010 Jan 30;194(1-3):103-7. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.10.022. Epub 2009 Nov 17.

Authors

Jonathan Liu¹, John Decatur, Gloria Proni, Elise Champeil

Affiliation

¹ Department of Science, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, NY 10019, USA.

PMID: 19926414
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.10.022

Abstract

Identification of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) in five cases of intoxication using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of human urine is reported. A new water suppression technique PURGE (Presaturation Utilizing Relaxation Gradients and Echoes) was used. A calibration curve was obtained using spiked samples. The method gave a linear response (correlation coefficient of 0.992) over the range 0.01-1mg/mL. Subsequently, quantitation of the amount of MDMA present in the samples was performed. The benefit and reliability of NMR investigations of human urine for cases of intoxication with MDMA are discussed.

Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Forensic Toxicology
Hallucinogens / urine*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy*
N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / urine*
Protons
Substance Abuse Detection / methods

Substances

Hallucinogens
Protons
N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine