PhD Scientific Days 2025

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Technologies II.

Preparative Synthesis and Chromatographic Profiling of Designer Drug Metabolites

Előadó neve

Szabó Levente, MSc

Neptun code

ITXVTU

Előadó munkahelye

Hungarian Institute for Forensic Sciences, Department of Forensic Toxicology

Előadó telefonszáma

+36209920979

Előadó e-mail címe

levszab96@gmail.com

Az előadás címe

Preparative Synthesis and Chromatographic Profiling of Designer Drug Metabolites

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

Levente Szabó, MSc¹, Zsófia Emma Kohán¹, Dr. Attila Ákos Papp², Dr. Előd Hidvégi¹, Dr. Krisztina Ludányi³, Dr. Gábor Süvegh¹

1: Hungarian Institute for Forensic Sciences, Department of Forensic Toxicology
2: Hungarian Institute for Forensic Sciences, Drug Investigation Department
3: Semmelweis University, Department of Pharmaceutics

Bemutatás módja

Szóbeli

Szekció

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Technologies II.

Language of the presentation

Hungarian

Preferred session

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Technologies

Összefoglaló szövege

Introduction: Nowadays, designer drug abuse raises serious concerns for public health and local authorities across Europe. In Hungary, the most prevalent synthetic compounds are N-ethyl-pentedrone (NEP) and 3-chloromethcathinone (3-CMC), according to the forensic analyses of human urine and blood samples seized by the police.
Aims: To facilitate the routine analyses of these compounds, we attempted to identify their metabolites using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). For this purpose, we relied on interpreting mass spectra and obtaining reference standards by preparative metabolite synthesis.
Methods: For mass spectrum interpretation of NEP metabolites, we analysed human urine samples collected by the authorities. We screened them with a multitarget drug monitoring assay, and selected those positive for the parent compound (NEP). Subsequently, we compared them to blank samples. Peaks on positive chromatograms missing from the blank ones indicated potential metabolite compounds. Structural information was suggested according to electron-ionisation spectra.
Preparative synthesis (conducted for metabolites of NEP and 3-CMC as well) was carried out via a reduction process using NaBH4 as the reagent. After the reaction, we extracted the product material from a basic solution, evaporated it to dryness, and then formed a hydrochloride salt by adding hydrochloric acid. Finally, a further cleaning step was necessary, for which we applied recrystallisation.
Results: By data comparison with blank samples, we found 12 marker peaks on GC-MS associated with NEP positivity. Interpreting mass spectra, four NEP metabolites were identified, consistent with those reported in the literature. In order of retention time: N-alkylated metabolite, N-alkylated and also keto-reduced metabolite (diastereomers not separated successfully), keto-reduced metabolite (ephedrine-like), keto-reduced metabolite (pseudoephedrine-like).
The reduction by NaBH4 resulted in the keto-reduced metabolites in both cases of NEP and 3-CMC. However, in the case of NEP, we found that only the ephedrine-like diastereomer could be identified in the product.
Conclusion: We identified four major metabolites of NEP by GC-MS analysis in human urine samples. Furthermore, keto-reduced metabolites of NEP and 3-CMC were synthesised for reference standards.

University

Semmelweis University

Supervisor

Dr. Krisztina Ludányi

Publication of my abstract

I do not give consent to the publication of my abstract on the website of the congress.

phd.section.field

in doctoral studies before complex exam (PhD)

Kind

Szabad

Status

elfogadva

Accepted presentation method

szóbeli

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

nem hagyta jóvá

Előadó

9070

Start

12:45

End

13:00