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Confiscation Case Involving a Novel Barbiturate Designer Drug

NCJ Number
186836
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 33 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2000 Pages: 103-110
Author(s)
H. Ohta; Y. Suzuki; R. Sugita; S. Suzuki; K. Ogasawara
Date Published
September 2000
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This case history explains the seizure and analysis of an unknown drug from a suspicious person in Japan, the scientific techniques used to analyze the drug, and the conclusion that the substance was an unknown barbiturate designer drug.
Abstract
The strange behavior of a medical student led to his detention and a physical search of his belongings and his home. The search revealed a white crystal powder in both the belongings and the home. The drug appeared to be an analogue of phenobarbital; the drug laws restricted its use. The techniques used to determine the drug’s structure included infrared spectrometry, electron impact and fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and proton and carbon magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results revealed that the compound’s molecular weight was an estimated 274, which was larger than that of any known barbiturates. Analysis also indicated that the seized drug contained a benzyl group, which has not been detected in any commercially available barbiturates. Therefore, the analysis concluded that the seized compound was an unknown barbiturate designer drug with a structure of 1-benzyl-1-ni-butyl-barbituric acid. The study also concluded that identifying any newly produced designer drug is important to aid law reform and drug law enforcement. Figures and 4 references (Author abstract modified)