Analysis of amphetamines illegally produced in Serbia

Abstract

Forensic practice in the Republic of Serbia faced the illegal production of amphetamine for the first time in 2003. This paper presents the results of the chemical characterization of 32 batches of amphetamine samples from three separate cases, for the purpose of identification of the active components and additives. Through the profiling of impurities of all samples, using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), 30 compounds associated with amphetamine were identified. The results of the analysis of powder tartrate, sulfate and phosphate salts of amphetamine, as well as variously formulated tablets are presented in this study. The analyses showed that the amphetamines were synthesized by the Leuckart method in all cases.

Keywords

• amphetamine
• impurity profiling
• Leuckart synthesis