Characterization of the synthesis of N,N-dimethyltryptamine by reductive amination using gas chromatography ion trap mass spectrometry

摘要: The present study established an impurity profile of a synthetic route to the hallucinogenic N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). synthesis was carried out under reductive amination conditions between tryptamine and aqueous formaldehyde in presence acetic acid followed by reduction with sodium cyanoborohydride. Analytical characterization this gas chromatography ion trap mass spectrometry using electron- chemical-ionization modes. Methanol employed as liquid CI reagent impact stoichiometric modifications on side-products formation also investigated. Tryptamine 1, DMT 2, 2-methyltetrahydro-β-carboline (2-Me-THBC, 3), N-methyl-N-cyanomethyltryptamine (MCMT, 4), N-methyltryptamine (NMT, 5), 2-cyanomethyl-tetrahydro-β-carboline (2-CM-THBC, 6) tetrahydro-β-carboline (THBC, 7) have been detected variety conditions. Replacement solution paraformaldehyde resulted incomplete conversion starting material whereas similar replacement cyanoborohydride borohydride almost exclusively produced THBC instead expected DMT. Compounds 1 7 were quantified limits detection 28.4, 87.7, 21.5, 23.4, 41.1, 36.6, 34.9 ng mL−1, respectively. quantification for compounds 32.4, 88.3, 25.4, 24.6, 41.4, 39.9, 37.0 µg Linearity observed range 20.8–980 mL−1 correlation coefficients > 0.99. application holds great promise area forensic chemistry where development reliable analytical methods detection, identification, are crucial pharmaceutical analysis might be prepared use human clinical studies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.