CASE REPORT Determination of 1-phenyl-2-propanone (P2P) by HS-GC/MS in a material sold as ‘‘wet amphetamine’’ Sebastiano Arnoldi 1 • Gabriella Roda 1 • Alessandro Coceanig 1 • Eleonora Casagni 1 • Lucia Dell’Acqua 1 • Fiorenza Fare ` 1 • Chiara Rusconi 1 • Lucia Tamborini 1 • Giacomo Luca Visconti 1 • Veniero Gambaro 1 Received: 21 December 2015 / Accepted: 7 March 2016 Ó Japanese Association of Forensic Toxicology and Springer Japan 2016 Abstract In this paper, we describe the approach to the characterization of an unusual material seized by the judicial authority, near Brescia City in Northern Italy. Usual analyses such as thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography (GC)–flame ionization detection, and GC/mass spectrometry (MS) did not show the presence of drugs of abuse, in particular amphetamine-like compounds. The major solid component was identified as cornstarch; then taking into account the strong aromatic scent of the seized material; a preliminary experiment for volatile organic compounds was carried out by headspace (HS)- GC/MS. This analysis tentatively evidenced the presence of 1-phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), an amphetamine precur- sor. Therefore, we developed and optimized a new ana- lytical method for determination of P2P in seized materials by HS-GC/MS. We also synthesized P2P, with the per- mission of the Ministry of Health, to have it as reference standard, because of its being illegal and the difficulty in obtaining it. This case had some analogies with the cases referred to as ‘‘wet amphetamine’’ by the judicial authority, in which amphetamines are sold mixed with P2P. The possible use of the material could be the production of tablets made of cornstarch with an aromatic scent similar to that of amphetamines to deceive consumers and to sell them as a drug of abuse. Keywords 1-Phenyl-2-propanone Á Methamphetamine Á Amphetamine Á Cornstarch Á ‘‘Wet amphetamine’’ Á HS-GC/MS Introduction The object material of the seizure was obtained at a backstreet dance club near Brescia City in Northern Italy, and it contained 741 g of a powdery and wet yellowish white material with a particular scent (Fig. 1) contained in a polyethylene bag. The appearance of the powder was very particular, emitting a strong aromatic smell; the majority of the powder was estimated as starch by colori- metric reactions [1]. From a legal point of view, it was necessary to identify and characterize other ingredients to give the correct punishment to people involved in this case. Usual analyses, such as thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography (GC)–flame ionization detection (FID), and GC/mass spectrometry (MS) did not evidence the presence of drugs of abuse, in particular structurally related to amphetamines. This case had some analogies with the cases referred to as ‘‘wet amphetamine’’ by the judicial authorities, in which amphetamine-like compounds are sold soaked with solvents. For this reason and due to the particular scent of the seized material, we carried out the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in this material by headspace (HS)-GC/MS. Materials and methods Reagents and chemicals All reagents were of analytical grade and were stored as indicated by the supplier. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), propylene carbonate, acetophenone, benzaldehyde, a-te- tralone, b-tetralone, pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC), 1-phenyl-2-propanol and DMSO-d 6 were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). Water & Gabriella Roda gabriella.roda@unimi.it 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Universita ` degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy 123 Forensic Toxicol DOI 10.1007/s11419-016-0311-3