Evaluation of silica hydride materials for the LC–MS analysis of cathinones and benzylpiperazines
Publication Date
May 2018
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Forensic Chemistry
Volume
8
DOI
10.1016/j.forc.2018.03.002
First Page
90
Last Page
94
Abstract
A new LCMS approach is tested for the analysis of controlled substances using bath salts (cathinones) as a model system. Since the structure of cathinones have a polar functionality (the amine group) as well as an aromatic component, separation on the LC column could be achieved in the reversed-phase(RP) or aqueous normal phase (ANP) modes. Since silica hydride columns can function in both modes they have considerable potential for the analysis of substances that have both polar and nonpolar functionalities. Four different silica hydride-based columns (C18, phenyl, cholesterol and diol) are tested in either the RP or ANP and RP modes using representative compounds to determine their applicability to bath salt analysis. A protocol for the analysis of a related illicit drug, benzylpiperazine, is developed on another silica hydride column (Diamond Hydride) in the ANP mode. Further testing is done on physiological samples, saliva (with 78–98% recovery) and hair, in order to determine that the approach outlined in this study could be utilized for these and other controlled substances in biological matrices.
Keywords
Silica hydride phases, Aqueous normal phase, Cathinones, Benzylpiperazine, Phenyl stationary phase
Recommended Citation
Joseph Pesek, Maria Matyska, Seiichiro Watanabe, Margaryta Makhanov, Arlette Lopez, Kavita Alejo, Diana Orozco, and Linda Doan. "Evaluation of silica hydride materials for the LC–MS analysis of cathinones and benzylpiperazines" Forensic Chemistry (2018): 90-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forc.2018.03.002