2C-B: a new psychoactive phenylethylamine recently discovered in Ecstasy tablets sold on the Swiss black market

Abstract

This study sought to identify, by means of several analytical methods (GC-MS, HPLC-DAD, CE-DAD, FTIR, and NMR), 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B), which was found in two sets of tablets obtained from the Swiss black market. Unequivocal identification of 2C-B was only achieved by a combination of mass spectrometric and NMR analysis. Quantitation of 2C-B was performed by HPLC-DAD and CE-DAD. The amounts of 2C-B found in the tablets (3-8 mg) were in the range of the minimum quantity required to induce the effects characteristic of this drug.