Extraction, identification and detection of synthetic cannabinoids found pre-ban in herbal products in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Measures to control the expanding use of synthetic cannabinoids demand new analytical methodology to identify and determine compounds within this rapidly evolving class. Herein, we identify seven synthetic cannabinoids (AM-2201, UR-144, XLR-11, A796,260, 5F-AKB48, PB-22 and 5F-PB-22) present in eleven herbal products sold in Victoria, Australia, prior to their ban in 2014, using a combination of GC-MS, HPLC, ESI-MS, and NMR. In aid of this work, we synthesised the synthetic cannabinoids AM-2201 and 5F-AKB48. We then explore for the first time, the chemiluminescence detection of synthetic cannabinoids using three commonly used reagents: permanganate, manganese(IV), and tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ru..