Identification of N-methyl-1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine (MBDB), an homologue derivative of "ecstasy"

Some of the various N-substituted derivatives of the MDA have become popula r drugs of abuse (MDMA, MDEA) in Europe and in France. With the increasing seizures of MBDB, [N-methyl-1-(1,3-bznzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine] a new ho mologue of MDMA and MDEA, forensic analysis of these controlled substances requires the use of powerful techniques to char characterize them. Analysis by either high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or capillary gas c hromatography (CGC) allows the separation of MDMA, MDEA, MBDB and EBDB. The isomers MDEA and MBDB are best differentiated by either nuclear magnetic r esonance spectroscopy (H-1-NMR) or the combination of mass spectra (MS) and retention time (CGC). These techniques were successfully applied to seized tablets.