Metabolism and toxicological detection of a new designer drug, N-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)propanamine, in rat urine using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Studies are described on the metabolism and the toxicological detection of the phencyclidine-derived designer drug N-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)-propanamine (PCPR) in rat urine using gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric techniques. The identified metabolites indicated that PCPR was metabolized by hydroxylation of the cyclohexyl ring at different positions, hydroxylation of the phenyl ring, N-dealkylation, and combinations of these steps. Parts of the metabolites were excreted in conjugated form. The authors’ systematic toxicological analysis (STA) procedure using full-scan GC–MS after acid hydrolysis, liquid–liquid extraction and microwave-assisted acetylation allowed the detection of an intake of a common drug users’ dose of PCPR in rat urine. Assuming similar metabolism in humans, the STA should be suitable for proof of an intake of PCPR in human urine.