Identification of Safrole ; a precursor chemical

Tassaporn Khlaeo-omBureau of Drug and Narcotic

Department of Medical Science, Nonthaburi

What’s Safrole?Safrole is a precursor chemical of

ring-substituted amphetamine-type substances

ex. MDMA or “Ecstasy”MDAMDE

Structure of Safrole

Formula : C10H10O2

Synonym : 3,4-methylenedioxyallylbenzene

5-(2-propenyl)-1,3-benzodioxole

Allyldioxybenzene methylene ether

Physical PropertiesChemical class : aromatic bicyclic phenol etherHabit : colorless to slightly yellow

liquid with an odor of sassafrasSolubility : H2O – insoluble

Propylene glycol- slightly soluble

EtOH, CHCl3, diethyl etherMol Wt. : 162.18 g/molMelting point : 11.2 CBoiling point : 234.5 C at 760 mm Hg

Synthesis from basic and uncontrolledchemical Safrole containing plants :

North AmericaSouth AmericaEast AsiaSouth East Asia

Sources of Safrole

Natural sources - different speciesLauraceae family

( Sassafras albidum, Cinnamomum camphora, Ocotea cymbarum and Ocotea pretiosa)

Piperaceae family( Piper hispidinervium)

Sources of Safrole

Cinnamomum camphora

ApplicationsFlavoring agent

( drugs, beverages and foods )

Perfume and Soap

Flavor some soft drink ( root beer)

Law Enforcement

Schedule IV under Narcotic Act, B.E. 2522

(ยาเสพตดิใหโทษประเภท 4 (ลําดบัที่ 15) ประกาศกระทรวงสาธารณสุขฉบับที่ 35 (พ.ศ.2539) พระราชบัญญัติยาเสพตดิ

ใหโทษ พ.ศ. 2522)

Samplesตัวอยางจากสํานักงานคณะกรรมการอาหารและยา

ลกัษณะเปนของเหลวใส ไมมีสี มีตะกอน

Screening TestI. Color Test

1) Marquis reagentdeep blue turning to dark purple

I. Color Test

2) Gallic acidbrown turning to dark brownish red

Screening Test

Confirmation testII. UV spectrophotometry

wavelength (nm) : 288.20 and 236.00

Fig. 1 UV spectrum of Safrole and sample 2

288.20 nm236.00 nm

Fig. 2 UV spectrum of Safrole and sample 2

236.00 nm 288.20 nm

III. GC SHIMADZU - 2010Column : Agilent, DB-1

(30 m, 0.32 mm id, 0.25 um)Col. temp : initial 100 C-2 min,

rate 20 C/min,final 280 C-5 min

Inj. temp : 250 CDet. temp : 280 CRT (min) : 4.6

Confirmation Test

Fig.3 Chromatogram of Safrole standard ( RT 4.682 min )

Fig.4 Chromatogram of sample 1 ( RT 4.665 min )

Fig.4 Chromatogram of sample 2 ( RT 4.670 min )

Confirmation Test

IV. GC-MS

m/z at 162 131 104 77 63 51

Fig.5 Mass spectrum of Safrole standard

Fig.6 Mass spectrum of sample 1

Fig.7 Mass spectrum of sample 2

Fig.8 Mass spectrum of Safrole from library

ConclusionScreening Test :

Color test : Marquis and Gallic acid

Confirmation Test :

UV SpectrophotometryGCGC-MS

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