Problems of Forensic Sciences 2018 Vol. 115 (CXV) 287-309
CLANDESTINE LABORATORY PRODUCING MEPHEDRONE (4-MMC) AND CLEPHEDRONE (4-CMC) – SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION AND HAZARD ANALYSIS
Wioleta WRZESIEŃ, Roman STANASZEK, Dariusz ZUBA, Bogumiła BYRSKA
Institute of Forensic Research, Kraków, Poland
Streszczenie
The article presents a case of seizure of a clandestine laboratory synthesizing mephedrone and clephedrone, compounds which represent the group of synthetic cathinones. In the seized material, presence of not only the final products, but also all necessary substrates (precursors), reagents, catalysts and solvents appropriate for the synthesis of both compounds and their intermediates was confirmed. The analysis of the traces detected on the equipment, laboratory glassware, lab coats, gloves and protective masks as well as the notebook and some documents containing notes with diagrams and reaction equations indicate, that a full and complete synthesis processes of mephedrone and clephedrone were performed.
The evidence samples were analyzed by using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector and liquid chromatography coupled with a mass detector, a hybrid combination of a quadrupole and a time-of-flight analyzer.
The production capacity of the clandestine laboratory was estimated. The total amount of mephedrone contained in the seized material was 3.3 kg, and the weight of the main intermediate product in the synthesis of mephedrone, 2-bromo-4’-methylpropiophenone, approximately 11.9 kg. While, the total estimated amount of clephedrone from the whole seized material was 21.9 g and the main intermediate product in its synthesis, i.e. 2-bromo-4’-chloropropiophenone was about 13.3 kg. A clandestine laboratory has proven to be a particularly dangerous place due to the presence of harmful substances such as bromine, high concentrated inorganic acids, volatile organic solvents and toxic intermediates of identified psychoactive substances containing chlorine and bromine atoms in their structures.
Słowa kluczowe
Clandestine laboratory; Synthesis of new psychoactive substances; Synthetic cathinones; Mephedrone; Clephedrone; Toxic intermediates.