The alprazolam analogue 4 ′‐chloro deschloroalprazolam identified in seized capsules

A new alprazolam analogue has been identified in seized material and characterised by a range of techniques. The analogue has very similar mass spectral properties to alprazolam and could be misidentified. AbstractNew designer benzodiazepines continue to be identified in the illicit drug market. In December 2021, eight capsules were submitted to ChemCentre for analysis. The samples were analysed by a range of analytical techniques including gas chromatography –mass spectrometry (GC–MS), ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS, low and high resolution), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, which identified the main component of the capsules to be 4′-chloro deschlor oalprazolam, a new designer benzodiazepine. Alarmingly, the mass spectral data for this alprazolam analogue were very similar to that of alprazolam, such that misidentification could be possible. A minor component of the capsules was also partially characterised, it is believed to be the synthetic p recursor 4′-chloro deschloronordiazepam. The information provided in this paper includes ways to discriminate these analogues from alprazolam and nordiazepam which will enable other laboratories to identify these new drugs.
Source: Drug Testing and Analysis - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: CASE REPORT Source Type: research