Detection and identification of the new potential synthetic cannabinoids 1-pentyl-3-(2-iodobenzoyl)indole and 1-pentyl-3-(1-adamantoyl)indole in seized bulk powders in Hungary

Péter Jankovics; András Váradi; László Tölgyesi; Szilvia Lohner; Júlia Németh-Palotás; József Balla

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.07.011

Detection and identification of the new potential synthetic cannabinoids 1-pentyl-3-(2-iodobenzoyl)indole and 1-pentyl-3-(1-adamantoyl)indole in seized bulk powders in Hungary

Forensic Sci Int. 2012 Jan 10;214(1-3):27-32. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.07.011. Epub 2011 Aug 2.

Authors

Péter Jankovics¹, András Váradi, László Tölgyesi, Szilvia Lohner, Júlia Németh-Palotás, József Balla

Affiliation

¹ National Institute of Pharmacy, Budapest, Hungary. jankovics.peter@ogyi.hu

PMID: 21813254
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.07.011

Abstract

3-Naphthoyl- and 3-phenylacetylindoles represent a group of substances of cannabimimetic activity with affinities - strongly influenced by their functional groups - to cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Some of them have been described as ingredients of herbal blends also known as "smart products" by several research groups. Recently further cannabimimetic substances possessing new chemical structures like benzoylindoles and adamantoylindoles have emerged. In Hungary, two powder samples were seized by the authorities and identified as 1-pentyl-3-(2-iodobenzoyl)indole (AM-679) and 1-pentyl-3-(1-adamantoyl)indole. Structure elucidation was carried out by LC-UV-MS/MS, LC-TOF-MS, GC-MS and NMR. The benzoylindole AM-679 is a known agonist of cannabinoid receptors while the adamantoylindole derivative also carries chemical features typical for cannabimimetics. It is thus assumed that both substances might be detected in "smart products" in the future.