Liquid chromatographic and mass spectral analysis of 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-butanamines, homologues of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamines

The 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-butanamines (HMDAs) are prepared via reductive amination of the corresponding ketone with a series of low molecular weight alkylamines. These amines are homologues of the N-substituted 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamines (MDAs). Compounds of the HMDA series have UV absorption properties similar to the MDAs because both series contain the same 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl chromophore. The HMDAs are separated via reversed-phase liquid chromatographic methods using a C18 stationary phase and an acidic aqueous acetonitrile mobile phase. The mass spectra of these potential designer drugs are very similar to the spectra of the MDA homologues having the same N-substituent.