Identification and quantitation of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) in human urine by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Application to five cases of intoxication

Authors

Jonathan Liu, CUNY John Jay College
John Decatur, Columbia University
Gloria Proni, CUNY John Jay CollegeFollow
Elise Champeil, CUNY John Jay CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-30-2010

Abstract

Identification of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) in five cases of intoxication using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of human urine is reported. A new water suppression technique PURGE (Presaturation Utilizing Relaxation Gradients and Echoes) was used. A calibration curve was obtained using spiked samples. The method gave a linear response (correlation coefficient of 0.992) over the range 0.01–1 mg/mL. Subsequently, quantitation of the amount of MDMA present in the samples was performed. The benefit and reliability of NMR investigations of human urine for cases of intoxication with MDMA are discussed.

Comments

This is the author's manuscript of an article originally published in Forensic Science International, available at doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.10.022.