Chemical markers from the peracid oxidation of isosafrole

In this work, isomers of 2,4-dimethyl-3,5-bis(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (11) are presented as chemical markers formed during the peracid oxidation of isosafrole. The stereochemical configurations of the major and next most abundant diastereoisomer are presented. Also described is the detection of isomers of (11) in samples from a clandestine laboratory uncovered in South Australia in February 2004.