Synthesis, full chemical characterisation and development of validated methods for the quantification of (±)-4′-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone): A new “legal high”

The recent global increase in the abuse of 4′-methylmethcathinone and related compounds has developed a requirement for full chemical characterisation of these products. In this work we present full synthetic and chemical characterisation data and supplemental information for mephedrone synthesised as both the hydrobromide and hydrochloride salt. Additionally we report the first fully validated chromatographic methods for the detection and quantitative analysis of the substance both in its pure form and in the presence of a number of common adulterants used in illicit drug manufacture.

Graphical abstractThe prevalence of cathinone-derived “legal high” drugs has given rise to both legal and analytical challenges in the identification of these substances. Full chemical characterisation and robust HPLC and GC–MS methods for the determination of two salt forms of mephedrone are presented.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide