Identification of N-methyl-1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)2-butanamine (MBDB), an homologue derivative of 'ecstasy'

Abstract

Some of the various N-substituted derivatives of the MDA have become popular drugs of abuse (MDMA, MDEA) in Europe and in France. With the increasing seizures of MBDB, [N-methyl-1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine] a new homologue of MDMA and MDEA, forensic analysis of these controlled substances requires the use of powerful techniques to characterize them. Analysis by either high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or capillary gas chromatography (CGC) allows the separation of MDMA, MDEA, MBDB and EBDB. The isomers MDEA and MBDB are best differentiated by either nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) or the combination of mass spectra (MS) and retention time (CGC). These techniques were successfully applied to seized tablets.