0

Phentermine Interference and High L-methamphetamine Concentration Problems in GC-EI-MS SIM Analyses of R-(-)-α-methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl Chloride-Derivatized Amphetamines and methamphetamines†

Theron J Hamilton, Harry Z Qui, Katherine V R Dozier, Zachary J Fuller

J Anal Toxicol. 2014 Sep;38(7):456-61.

PMID: 24951536

Abstract:

In order to achieve chromatographic separation, urine samples shown to be initially positive for amphetamines and methamphetamines in US Department of Defense immunoassays are derivatized with R-(-)-α-methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl chloride (R-(-)-MTPA) prior to gas chromatography-electron impact-mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS) analysis. Phentermine, a member of the phenethylamine class of drugs and a common appetite suppressant, interferes with GC-EI-MS assays of R-(-)-MTPA-derivatized d-amphetamine, degrading the chromatography of the internal standard and analyte ions and skewing concentration calculations. Additionally, when specimens with high concentrations of l-methamphetamine are derivatized with R-(-)-MTPA, signal peaks have the potential to be misidentified by integration software as d-methamphetamine. We have found that replacing R-(-) MTPA with (S)-(+)-α-methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl chloride reduces phentermine interference problems related to internal standard chromatography, reduces the possibility of concentrated l-methamphetamine peaks being misidentified by integration software, improves resolution of d-methamphetamine in the presence of high l-methamphetamine concentrations, and is a cost-neutral change that can be applied to current amphetamines GC-EI-MS methods without the need for method modification.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number Product Name Structure CAS Number Price
AP20445334 (S)-(+)-α-Methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl chloride (S)-(+)-α-Methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl chloride 20445-33-4 Price
qrcode

We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve the overall user experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. Read our Privacy Policy

Accept Cookies
x