Detection in urine of 4-methyl-2-hexaneamine, a doping agent

Stimulants are banned in-competition for all categories of sports by the World Anti-Doping Agency. A simple liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) assay employing electrospray ionisation in positive mode was developed in that work for the quantification in urine specimens of 4-methyl-2-hexaneamine, a primary amine exhibiting sympathomimetic properties. Following a simple pretreatment procedure, the analyte was separated using a gradient mobile phase on reverse phase C8 column. Selected reaction monitoring m/z 116.2 → 57.3 was specific for detection of 4-methyl-2-hexaneamine and the assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 50–700 ng/mL. The validated method has been successfully applied to analyze the target compound in food supplements as well as in urine specimens. The administered drug (40 mg) was detected at the level of 350 ng/mL in the urine up to 4 days.