METHAMPHETAMINE Latest Revision: March 15, 2005
1. SYNONYMS
CFR: Methamphetamine
CAS #: Base: 537-46-2
Hydrochloride: 51-57-0
Other Names: 1-Phenyl-2-methylaminopropane
d-Deoxyephedrine
d-Desoxyephedrine
N,α-Dimethylbenzeneethanamine
d-N-Methylamphetamine
(+)-N,α-Dimethylphenethylamine
d-Phenylisopropylmethylamine
Methyl-β-phenylisopropylamine
Norodin
Methedrine
2. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL DATA
2.1. CHEMICAL DATA
Form Chemical Formula Molecular Weight Melting Range (°C)
Base C10H15N 149.2 Liquid at room temp.
Hydrochloride C10H16NCl 185.7 172-174
2.2. SOLUBILITY
Form A C E H M W
Base S S S S S SS
Hydrochloride VSS FS I I FS FS
A = acetone, C = chloroform, E = ether, H = hexane, M = methanol and W = water, VS = very soluble, FS =
freely soluble, S = soluble, PS = sparingly soluble, SS = slightly soluble, VSS = very slightly soluble and I =
insoluble
3. SCREENING TECHNIQUES
3.1. COLOR TEST
REAGENT COLOR PRODUCED
Marquis Orange-brown
Sodium nitroprusside Blue
3.2. CRYSTAL TESTS
REAGENT TEST DESCRIPTION OF CRYSTALS
Platinic chloride in diluted H3PO4
(d and d,l isomer specific)
Volatility Grains with sharp edges which aggregate in
chains and short prisms; birefringent.
Gold chloride in diluted H3PO4
(d and d,l isomer specific)
Direct or volatility Long blades and jointed crystals, fairly high
birefringence
Bismuth iodide in diluted H2SO4
(d and d,l isomer specific)
Volatility Drops, long orange splinters, blades,
needles; also deep red angular grains (red
prisms only after evaporation): drops
crystallizing in orange-red prisms with
conspicuously slanting ends; also "mossy"
formation of grains and some large deep red
grains.
3.3. THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPH
Visualization
Acidified iodoplatinate solution Acidified potassium permanganate solution
COMPOUND
RELATIVE R1
System
TLC6
System
TLC5
adrenaline 0.1 0.0
amphetamine 0.6 1.3
caffeine 1.4 1.6
cathine 0.3 1.3
ephedrine 0.4 0.9
methamphetamine 1.0 1.0
phenylpropanolamine 0.3 1.4
pseudoephedrine 0.3 1.1
3.4. GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
Method MEM-GCS1
Instrument: Gas chromatograph operated in split mode with FID
Column: 5% phenyl/95% methyl silicone 10 m x 0.32 mm x 0.52 µm
Carrier gas: Hydrogen at 1.5 mL/min
Temperatures: Injector: 280°C
Detector: 280°C
Oven program:
1) 120°C initial temperature for 1.0 min
2) Ramp to 280°C at 25°C/min
3) Hold final temperature for 1.0 min
Injection Parameters: Split Ratio = 100:1, 1 µL injected
Samples are to be dissolved in chloroform and enhancemented.
COMPOUND RRT COMPOUND RRT
dimethylsulfone 0.38 dimethylphthalate 2.13
phenyl-2-propanone 0.79 guaifenesin 2.97
amphetamine 0.79 caffeine 3.64
methamphetamine 1.00 (1.42 min) lidocaine 3.81
phenylpropanolamine 1.61 cocaine 4.89
ephedrine 1.80 triprolidine 5.05
pseudoephedrine 1.81 heroin 6.12
nicotinamide 1.85
3.5. HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY
Method MEM-LCS1
Instrument: High performance liquid chromatograph equipped with diode array
Column: 5 µm ODS, 150 mm x 4.6mm at 35°C
Detector: UV, 207 nm
Flow: 1.0 mL/min
Injection Volume: 5.0 µL
Buffer: 4000 mL distilled water, 22.5 mL phosphoric acid, adjust to pH 2.3
with triethanolamine
Mobile Phase: Buffer: acetonitrile 90:10
Samples are to be dissolved in methanol and enhancemented with a 0.45-micron enhancement.
COMPOUND RRT COMPOUND RRT
phenylpropanolamine 0.20 caffeine 0.86
ephedrine 0.38 methamphetamine 1.00 (5.5 min)
pseudoephedrine 0.38 cocaine 7.92
amphetamine 0.71 heroin 8.53
3.6. CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS
Method MEM-CES
Internal Standard Stock Solution:
0.15 mg/mL phenethylamine in 100 mM sodium phosphate buffer at pH of 3.5.
Standard Solution Preparation:
Accurately weigh and prepare a standard solution of d-methamphetamine hydrochloride, l-methamphetamine
hydrochloride, d-amphetamine hydrochloride, l-amphetamine hydrochloride, d-ephedrine hydrochloride, lephedrine hydrochloride, d-pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and l-pseudoephedrine hydrochloride at
approximately 0.15 mg/mL each using above internal standard stock solution.
Sample Preparation:
Accurately weigh an amount of sample into a volumetric flask and dilute with internal standard stock solution.
If necessary, dilute the sample so the final concentration approximates the standard concentration.
Mode: Free zone
Column: 47 cm x 50 µm fused silica capillary
Run Buffer: 200 mM sodium phosphate buffer with 30 mM hydroxy-propyl-βcyclodextrin pH 3.5
Detector: UV, 210 nm
Voltage: 26 kV
Temperature: 20°C liquid cooled
Injection: 1 s hydrodynamic
Run Time: 12 min
Rinse Time: 2 min
COMPOUND RMT COMPOUND RMT
phenethylamine 0.55 d-amphetamine 0.93
l-pseudoephedrine 0.85 d-pseudoephedrine 0.95
d-ephedrine 0.88 l-methamphetamine 0.97
l-ephedrine 0.90 d-methamphetamine 1.00 (10.54 min)
l-amphetamine 0.91
4. SEPARATION TECHNIQUES
Methamphetamine hydrochloride can be isolated from several adulterants and diluents by the use of solvent
washes. For example, ephedrine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride can be separated from
methamphetamine based on differences in chloroform solubilities. Methamphetamine is very soluble in
chloroform while ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are not very soluble in chloroform. These components can be
separated from a mixture by collecting the methamphetamine in the first couple of drops of a chloroform rinse.
Another useful technique is multiple solvent recrystallization. For example, nicotinamide, caffeine, and
dimethylsulfone are slightly soluble in ether whereas methamphetamine hydrochloride is practically insoluble.
The separation is accomplished by dissolving a mixture of methamphetamine and these diluents in 2 mL of
methanol followed by dilution with 40 mL ether. The methamphetamine hydrochloride will precipitate out of
the ether whereas the adulterants remain dissolved.
5. QUANTITATIVE PROCEDURE
5.1. GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
Method MEM-GCQ1
Internal Standard Stock Solution:
0.25 mg/mL dimethylphthalate in chloroform.
Standard Solution Preparation:
Accurately weigh and prepare a standard solution of methamphetamine hydrochloride at approximately 1.0
mg/mL using above internal standard stock solution.
Sample Preparation:
Accurately weigh an amount of sample into a volumetric flask and dilute with internal standard stock solution.
If necessary, dilute the sample so the final concentration approximates the standard concentration
Instrument: Gas chromatograph operated in split mode with FID
Column: 5% phenyl/95% methyl silicone 10 m x 0.32 mm x 0.52 µm film
thickness
Carrier gas: Hydrogen at 1.0 mL/min
Temperatures: Injector: 280°C
Detector: 280°C
Oven program:
1) 140°C initial temperature for 0.8 min
2) Ramp to 200°C at 25°C/min
3) Hold final temperature for 1.8 min
Injection Parameters: Split Ratio = 20:1, 1 µL injected
Typical Retention Time: Methamphetamine: 1.30 min
Dimethylphthalate: 2.50 min
Linear Range: 0.05 - 2.0 mg/mL
Repeatability: RSD less than 0.5%
Correlation Coefficient: 0.999
Accuracy: Error less than 5%
COMPOUND RRT COMPOUND RRT
dimethylsulfone 0.53 pseudoephedrine 1.63
amphetamine 0.86 nicotinamide 1.66
methamphetamine 1.00 (1.3 min) dimethylphthalate 1.89
phenylpropanolamine 1.45 guaifenesin 2.68
ephedrine 1.62 caffeine 3.47
5.2. HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY
Method MEM-LCQ1
Standard Solution Preparation:
Accurately weigh and prepare a standard solution of methamphetamine hydrochloride at approximately 0.5
mg/mL using methanol.
Sample Preparation:
Accurately weigh an amount of sample into a volumetric flask and dilute with methanol. If necessary, dilute the
sample so the final concentration approximates the standard concentration. enhancement sample with 0.45-micron
enhancement.
Instrument: High performance liquid chromatograph equipped with diode array
Column: 5 µm ODS, 150 mm x 4.6 mm
Detector: UV, 207 nm
Flow: 1.00 mL/min
Injection Volume: 5.0 µL
Buffer: 4000 mL distilled water, 22.5 mL phosphoric acid, adjust pH to 2.3
with triethanolamine
Mobile Phase: Buffer: acetonitrile 90:10
Typical Retention Time: Methamphetamine: 5.5 min
Linear Range: 0.05 - 2.0 mg/mL
Repeatability: RSD less than 0.5%
Correlation Coefficient: 0.9999
Accuracy: Error less than 5%
COMPOUND RRT COMPOUND RRT
phenylpropanolamine 0.20 caffeine 0.86
ephedrine 0.38 methamphetamine 1.00 (5.5 min)
pseudoephedrine 0.38 cocaine 7.92
amphetamine 0.71 heroin 8.53
5.3. CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS
Method MEM-CEQ1
Internal Standard Stock Solution:
0.15 mg/mL thiamine in 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer at pH of 2.4.
Standard Solution Preparation:
Accurately weigh and prepare a standard solution of methamphetamine hydrochloride at approximately 0.4
mg/mL using above internal standard stock solution.
Sample Preparation:
Accurately weigh an amount of sample into a volumetric flask and dilute with internal standard stock solution.
If necessary, dilute the sample so the final concentration approximates the standard concentration.
Mode: Free zone
Column: 48 cm x 50 µm fused silica capillary
Run Buffer: 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 2.4
Detector: UV, 210 nm
Voltage: 25 kV
Temperature: 30°C air cooled
Injection: 5 s at 50 mbar hydrodynamic
Run Time: 6 min
Rinse Time: 2 min
Linear Range: 0.04 - 1.0 mg/mL
Repeatability: RSD less than 0.8%
Correlation Coefficient: 0.999
Accuracy: Error less than 5%
COMPOUND RMT COMPOUND RMT
thiamine 0.81 pseudoephedrine 1.05
nicotinamide 0.92 phenylpropanolamine 1.07
amphetamine 0.99 ephedrine 1.08
methamphetamine 1.00 (4.0 min)
6. QUALITATIVE DATA
6.1. INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY (FT-IR)
An additional difficulty in comparing the IR spectra of methamphetamine arises from the existence of different
isomers and of ionic exchange with the matrix. To overcome this difficulty, both sample and standard should be
subjected to the same preparations.
See spectra on the following pages for FT/IR, GC/MS, NMR, and Vapor Phase IR.
7. REFERENCES
Budavari, S., The Merck Index, 12th Edition, Merck and Co., Inc., 1996, p. 1017.
Clarke, E.G.C., Isolation and Identification of Drugs, 2nd Edition, The Pharmaceutical Press, 1986.
Horwitz William, Sr. Ed., Official Methods of Analysis, The Association of Official Analytical Chemists,
Washington, DC., Eleventh Edition, 1970.
Moffat A. C., Sr. Ed., Clarke's Isolation and Identification of Drugs, The Pharmaceutical Press, London,
Second Edition, 1996.
