Identification and analytical properties of new synthetic cannabimimetics bearing 2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropanecarbonyl moiety

By means of gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detector (GC–MS), liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), structure of a series from a novel class of synthetic cannabimimetics bearing 2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropanecarbonyl moiety was established. It was found that this fragment could undergo thermal ring-opening into isomeric structures. The title compounds under action of hydrochloric acid can transform into new compounds which structure is discussed in the paper. The compounds identified could be referred to a new class of ‘designer drugs’ and are in illegal turnover in Russia and Belarus since the summer of 2011. Analytical data obtained in the paper will make possible reliable identification of such new ‘designer drugs’ during forensic examination.