Impurities profiling of seized crystals by GC/MS through 2016 in Iran

Background: Methamphetamine is a highly addictive psychoactive substance which threatens the health of individuals and society. Crystal methamphetamine is an industrial synthetic illegal substance which is made from many chemical reagents. The aim of this study was to analyze methamphetamine samples qualitatively in order to determine the components of this substance. Materials and Methods: In this study 112 samples of crystalline methamphetamine were analyzed that obtained from Legal Medicine Organization of Iran during the year 2016. In order to determine the chemical characteristics of in samples, Gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) were carried out on the samples. Results: The results demonstrated that all samples contained methamphetamine. The most frequently occurring synthesis active ingredients, by-products and adulterants were acetic acid, amphetamine and dimethyl amphetamine. Other ingredients were N-formyl amphetamine, N-formyl methamphetamine, N-acetyl methamphetamine, N-acetyl amphetamine, benzyl amphetamine, 2-6-dimethyl-3,5-diphenyl pyridine, N-ethyl methamphetamine, ketamine, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. About 70% of samples contained phenmetrazine. Conclusion: The chemical composition of crystal varies not only with methamphetamine content, but also in the adulterants. Illicit manufacture of methamphetamine results in the formation of some synthesis by-products. Identifying the composition of illicit amphetamines based on the presence or absence of other pharmaceuticals and by-products is presented in this study. All samples were methamphetamine. The fact that N-Benzyl 2-methylaziridine was the most frequently found impurity in the analyzed samples, indicates that most of the methamphetamine samples seized in Iran have been synthesized from ephedrine and pseudoephedrine as starting material.