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Recently abused β-keto derivatives of 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylalkylamines: a review of their metabolisms and toxicological analysis

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Abstract

β-Keto derivatives of 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylalkylamines (bk-MDPAs), especially 2-methylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)propan-1-one (methylone), 2-methylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butan-1-one (bk-MBDB), and 2-ethylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)propan-1-one (bk-MDEA), are abused as substitutes for 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylalkylamines in some countries, causing increased social problems. With the widespread abuse of bk-MDPAs, the analysis of bk-MDPAs and their metabolites in human specimens is quite important in forensic and clinical toxicology. In this review, the metabolisms of bk-MDPAs and simultaneous analytical methods for bk-MDPAs and their metabolites by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry are presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0053, Japan

    Kei Zaitsu, Munehiro Katagi & Michiaki Tatsuno

  2. Department of Legal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Japan

    Takako Sato, Hitoshi Tsuchihashi & Koichi Suzuki

Authors
  1. Kei Zaitsu
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  2. Munehiro Katagi
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  3. Michiaki Tatsuno
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  4. Takako Sato
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  5. Hitoshi Tsuchihashi
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  6. Koichi Suzuki
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Correspondence to Kei Zaitsu.

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Zaitsu, K., Katagi, M., Tatsuno, M. et al. Recently abused β-keto derivatives of 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylalkylamines: a review of their metabolisms and toxicological analysis. Forensic Toxicol 29, 73–84 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-011-0111-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-011-0111-8

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