Rapid Analysis of the Central Nervous System Stimulants, Amphetamines, via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry: Rapid Acylation in the Presence of a Mercury Catalyst

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Abstract
A simple, direct, instantaneous, and quantitative acetylating procedure for amphetamines has been developed. The method uses trifluoroacetic anhydride in the presence of mercuric trifluoroacetate as a catalyst. The product was characterized by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system. The salient features of this technique are: (a) rapidity of analysis; (b) no previous cleanup to remove adulterants; and (c) detection of amphetamines at the picomole level. We have routinely applied this technique for court samples and law enforcement authorities. The method could prove to be applicable, with minimum amounts of involvement in sample preparation, to the analysis of a variety of compounds containing an acyl displaceable hydrogen.