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Identification of di(beta-phenylisopropyl)amine as the main ingredient in illicit amphetamine tablets
Valeria Ottaviano1, Carmelo Furnari, Felice Rosati
1Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Laboratorio di Tossicologia Forense, Università degli Studi Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Roma.
Abstract:
The identification of di(beta-phenylisopropyl)amine found as the main ingredient in several sets of amphetamine tablets sold on the illicit market in Rome, Italy, during 1999-2000 is described. The identification was achieved by examining the ultraviolet and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral properties as well as the chromatographic, gas chromatographic, and mass spectrometric data. The molecular structure of the ingredient showed a close analogy to the amphetamine and could very likely produce similar pharmacological activity. A preliminary test on the metabolic pathway of di(beta-phenylisopropyl)amine performed on rats, suggests its biotransformation to amphetamine.
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