Accessing the chemical profile of ecstasy tablets seized in São Paulo (Brazil) by FT-Raman Spectroscopy

FT-Raman spectroscopy was used in the chemical analysis of ecstasy tablets seized in the State of São Paulo (Brazil) and GC-MS was used as confirmatory technique. The main purpose was to obtain information about the drug source or distribution routes, as well as to access the potential health risks for users from their chemical composition. Previous works have shown that only ca. 45% of the ecstasy tablet seized in São Paulo contained 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-N-methylpropan-2-amine); however, in the spectra reported here no MDMA was identified. Caffeine, methorphan (dextromethorphan), a βk-MDMA analog and clobenzorex were detected instead; clobenzorex was identified in orange tablets that also contained an unknown chemical compound with unassigned Raman bands, which was not detected by GC-MS. An identification of the chemical compounds present in red tablets was not possible by matching the band positions to any of the possibilities considered, including pharmaceuticals. The residue left after methanol dissolution was analyzed by FT-Raman spectroscopy, and titanium dioxide (anatase), starch and microcrystalline cellulose were identified.