Identification of 1-butyl-3-(1-(4-methyl)naphtoyl)indole detected for the first time in “herbal high” products on the Italian market

The results of the analysis of some herbal products and powders adulterated with alkylindoles recovered on the Italian market between 2010 and 2011 are reported. Besides the well-known alkyindoles JWH-018 and JWH-073, other derivatives such as JWH-250 and AM-694 have been detected and for the first time in Italy 1-butyl-3-(1-(4-methyl)naphthoyl)indole (compound 1), the 4-methylnaphthoyl analogue of JWH-073. This compound as well as the other alkylindoles has been synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, DSC, GC/MS, and elemental analysis.The quantitative analyses of the samples have been carried out by means of the GC/FID method developed in our laboratory for the analysis of herbal high products containing naphthoylindoles; the quantity of the cannabimimetic substances ranged from 6 mg/g to 47 mg/g.

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► GC/MS and GC/FID analysis of herbal high products seized in Italy in 2010–2011.
► Adulteration of these herbal products with illegal alkylindoles.
► Identification of 1-butyl-3-(1-(4-methyl)naphtoyl)indole for the first time in Italy.