13
Figure 2. Accurate mass ion chromatograms of the trenbolone enanthate sample showing the range of additional trenbolone esters present as minor components.
LCMS
Analysis by accurate mass LCMS showed the presence of a large peak consisting of predominantly m/z 383.2579 (Figure 1). This was consistent, after having removed a proton, with an elemental composition of C25H34O3. A Google search of
C25H34O3 generated multiple hits for trenbolone enanthate. A repeat analysis acquiring MS2
product ions of m/z 383 gave a spectrum similar to that of the MS2
mass spectrum of trenbolone (MW 270). The 271.1689 product ion was the same as protonated trenbolone ( 271.1692). The m/z 253.1583 was also consistent with the MS2
spectrum of trenbolone. This fragment is generated through the loss of
H2O from the trenbolone molecule GCMS
Initial analysis by GCMS of underivatised material had failed to show any significant response although there were several small chromatographic peaks that gave poor matches for trenbolone against proprietary databases. Subsequent analysis as the enol TMS derivative yielded several related peaks. This is consistent with experiences with trenbolone as an enol TMS derivative in the author’s laboratory.
Trenbolone enanthate is exclusive to the underground drug market and is not available via legitimate routes. Closer examination of the data revealed that all the esters from the ethanoate to the heptanoate (enanthate) were present in the sample (Figure 2). The other esters, even at lower levels as seen in this case, would not be present in a pharmaceutical product.
Stanozolol LCMS
Not detected by LCMS. This is normal for fully saturated steroids. GCMS
Monoisotopic [M+H]+ = 329.2587 LCMS
Analysis by accurate mass LCMS gave a large chromatographic peak with a mass of m/z 329.2585. This was consistent, after having removed a proton, with an
elemental composition of C21H32N2O. A Google search of C21H32N2O generated multiple hits for stanozolol. The sample was reanalysed to acquire a MS2
product
ion spectrum of m/z 329. The resulting spectrum gave a very good match in our in house MSn library for stanozolol.
GCMS
Stanozolol is not suited to analysis by GCMS and as the identity of this sample had already been confirmed by LCMSMS, no GCMS analysis was performed.
Drostranolone propionate
Analysis by GCMS showed a large peak at a retention time of 16.77 minutes (Figure 4). The mass spectrum from this peak was searched against a mass spectral library obtained from the Association of Official Racing Chemists (AORC) that has been compiled from entries received from member laboratories around the world. The spectrum matched with a library entry for oxymetholone.
Figure 3. Mass spectrum from the peak at retention time 16.42 minutes giving a best hit for mesterolone bis TMS.
‘unknown’ steroid is structurally similar to drostanolone. The formation of the enol TMS derivative of drostanolone propionate would result in a compound with a mass spectrum showing a molecular ion of m/z 432. This was seen in the spectrum recorded for the largest peak in the TIC.
With a combination of the LCMS accurate mass data to confirm the elemental composition and the GCMS data to give an indication of structural similarity to mesterolone, we were confident in reporting drostanolone propionate in this sample.
Oxymetholone
Monoisotopic [M+H]+ 361.2737 LCMS
Initial analysis by accurate mass LCMS gave a peak predominantly of m/z 361.2736. In addition there were two other ions corresponding to [M+NH4]+ [M+Na]+
(378.3002) and (383.2553). This was consistent, after having removed a proton, with an
elemental composition of C23H36O3. Once again a Google search generated a hit for an anabolic steroid. This time it was for drostanolone propionate.
GCMS
Further analysis by GCMS gave a peak with a mass spectrum that was similar but not identical to mesterolone (Figure 3). Mesterolone is structurally very similar to drostanolone and the close spectral match to mesterolone would suggest that the
First published in MassMatters, the British Mass Spectrometry Society newsletter
www.bmss.org.uk
Figure 4. EI-GCMS of oxymetholone showing TIC and mass spectrum of tris TMS derivative
References
1. Seizures of Drugs in England and Wales, 2008/09: Home Office Report
rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1609.pdf
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