THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION STUDIES OF COCAINE USING GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY - MASS-SPECTROMETRY WITH STABLE ISOTOPE-LABELED ANALOGS

Selective ion monitoring techniques with gas chromatography-mass spect rometry (GC-MS) were used for the identification and quantitation of t hermal decomposition products of cocaine. Cocaine was heated in glass ampules at different temperatures (180-200-degrees-C). After appropria te time periods the ampules were analyzed for cocaine and its pyrolysa tes using mass spectrometry. Methylecgonidine (MECD) was the only ther mal decomposition product found in this study. Obviously, vapors of co caine under free basing conditions, must be rich in MECD. Methylecgoni dine is an exclusive pyrolysate of cocaine; it is also a major metabol ite of cocaine in animals and man and could significantly contribute t o the overall toxic effects of cocaine.