Detection of 4-FMC, 4-MeO-α-PVP, 4-F-α-PVP, and PV8 in blood in a forensic case using liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization linear ion trap mass spectrometry. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mochizuki, Akira; Adachi, Noboru; Shojo, Hideki
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 325(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Cathinone derivatives -- Detection and quantification analyses -- Liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization linear ion trap mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–LIT–MS) -- Gas chromatography–electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC–EI–MS); Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110888
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Abstract: We present a case of fatal poisoning by 4-F-methcathinone (4-FMC; also called flephedrone), 4-methoxy-α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (4-MeO-α-PVP), 4-fluoro-α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (4-F-α-PVP), and α-pyrrolidinohepatanophenone (PV8). In this study, we compared the mass spectra of 4-FMC, 4-MeO-α-PVP, 4-F-α-PVP, PV8, and α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone between LC–ESI–LIT–MS and GC–EI–MS analyses. Subsequently, we applied LC–ESI–LIT–MS for detection and quantification analyses of 4-FMC, 4-MeO-α-PVP, 4-F-α-PVP, and PV8 in human authentic whole blood samples. More specific mass spectra for the target compounds were obtained with the LC–ESI–LIT–MS qualitative analyses than with the GC–EI–MS analyses, indicating that LC–ESI–LIT–MS was more suitable for the qualitative analysis of cathinones. The LC–ESI–LIT–MS validation data showed moderately good linearity and reproducibility for the compounds in the quantitative analyses at the range of 1–500 ng/mL. The detection limits of four cathinones ranged from 0.1 to 1 ng/mL. The concentrations of 4-FMC, 4-MeO-α-PVP, 4-F-α-PVP, and PV8 in heart whole blood samples were 365, 449, 145, and 218 ng/mL, respectively. Those of the 4 cathinones in femoral vein whole blood samples were 397, 383, 127, and 167 ng/mL, respectively. We can then assume that the cause of death was acute poisoning by a combination of 4-FMC, 4-MeO-α-PVP, 4-F-α-PVP, and PV8. In this article, we present a detailed LC–ESI–LIT–MS procedure for detection and quantification analyses of 4-FMC, 4-MeO-α-PVP, 4-F-α-PVP, and PV8 in authentic human whole blood samples.