Home > ‘Smoking’ mephedrone: The identification of the pyrolysis products of 4-methylmethcathinone hydrochloride.

Kavanagh, Pierce and O'Brien, John and Power, John D and Talbot, Brian and McDermott, Sean (2012) ‘Smoking’ mephedrone: The identification of the pyrolysis products of 4-methylmethcathinone hydrochloride. Drug Testing and Analysis, 5, (5), pp. 291-305. DOI 10.1002/dta.1373.

The ring-substituted cathinone – mephedrone – has gained popularity among recreational drug users over the past several years. It is generally consumed orally or by snorting but reports indicate that it is also ingested by vaporization/inhalation. This study examines the pyrolysis products produced by heating mephedrone under using simulated ‘meth pipe’ conditions. Thirteen pyrolysis products were identified, the major ones being iso-mephedrone, 4-methylpropiophenone, 4-methylphenylacetone, two pyrazine derivatives formed by dimerization of mephedrone, N-methylated mephedrone (N,N,4-trimethylcatinone), two hydroxylated oxidation products and a diketone. Other minor products formed were identified as 4-methylacetophenone, two a-chloro ketones and N-methylated iso-mephedrone.


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