C. Conn et al., IDENTIFICATION OF N-ACETYLMETHAMPHETAMINE IN A SAMPLE OF ILLICITLY SYNTHESIZED METHAMPHETAMINE, Journal of forensic sciences, 41(4), 1996, pp. 645-647
Analysis of illicit methamphetamine samples revealed the presence of a
hitherto unreported impurity. This was identified as N-acetylmethamph
etamine by synthesis and GC-MS. This impurity is believed to arise by
transesterification of methamphetamine during reflux with propyl aceta
te. Other circumstantial evidence and intelligence data indicate that
propyl acetate was used to increase yields of methamphetamine hydrochl
oride by azeotropic removal of water remaining after salt formation wi
th aqueous hydrochloric acid.