Forensic Analysis of
gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid, gamma-Hydroxybutyrate, gamma-Butyrolactone, and Related Compounds

Selected References (1992-2003)

Microgram Bulletin, Vol 37, No 3, pp. 52-55 (2004)

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Analysis of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) or gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB-):

Review1, overview2,3, comprehensive analyses4,5,6, by dual mode ion trap mobility spectrometry7, by free zone CE with direct UV detection of GHB8, by color testing9,10, by FTIR and color testing11, by GC/MS after extraction on a SPME fiber and derivatization with BSTFA12, by ICP atomic emission and MS13, by IR14, by IR using a 3 bounce diamond ATR element15,16, by microcrystal testing with cupric nitrate/silver nitrate solution17, by NMR18,19, by SPME - HPLC/UV and SPME/HPLC/MS20, and by SPME GC/quadrupole ion trap spectrometry21.

Analysis of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL):

Interconversion studies(22,23,24,25,26, by CE and HPLC27, by GC/MS with BSTFA derivatization28, by GC/MS and 1H-NMR29, by HPLC30, by HPLC/UV-Vis and HPLC/Thermospray MS31, by IR32, and gamma-butyrolactone in wine by GC/MS33.

Analysis of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), 1,4-butanediol (BD), tetrahydrofuran (THF), and/or GHB/GBL analogs:

Comprehensive analysis of BD34, Overview and comprehensive analyses35, overview of analysis of GHB, GBL, and BD36, overview of GHB, GABA, and various analogs37, by capillary electrochromatography38, by CE39, by HPLC using paired ion chromatography40, detection in liquids by osmolality41, and of various 2-alkyl-2-keto-gamma-butyrolactone derivatives by GC after chiral derivatization42.

References

  1. Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Association. Monograph: GHB. Fresno, CA:2000.
  2. Lewis A, Smith E. gamma-Hydroxybutyrate: From the 60's to the present. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2000;6:43.
  3. Negrusz A, Cooper FJ, LeBeau MA, Marinetti LJ, Borgen LA, Zvosek DL, Smith SW. GHB: Old substance, new problem. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2002;8:10.
  4. Walker L. Identification of the potassium salt of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). Journal of the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Association 1999;9(1):17.
  5. Bommarito C. Analytical profile of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). Journal of the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Association 1993;3:10.
  6. Krawczeniuk A. The occurrence of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in a steroid seizure. Microgram 1993;26(7):160.
  7. Geraghty E, Wu C, McGann W. Effective screening for “Club Drugs” with dual mode ion trap mobility spectrometry. International Journal for Ion Mobility Spectrometry 2002;5(3):41.
  8. Krawczeniuk AS. Direct detection of gamma-hydroxybutyrate: A new recreational drug via free zone capillary electrophoresis. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 1998;4:34.
  9. Koppenhaver DJ. GHB color test. Microgram 1997;30(6):130.
  10. Alston WC, Ng K. Rapid colorimetric screening test for gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (Liquid X) in human urine. Forensic Science International 2002;126(2):114.
  11. Morris, JA. Extraction of GHB for FTIR analysis and a new color test for gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). Microgram 1999;32(8):215.
  12. Garcia AD, Shannon M, Almirall JR. Fast analysis of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) by in situ derivatization on an SPME fiber. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 1999;5:45.
  13. Wolnik KA, Keitkemper DT, Crowe JB, Barnes BS, Brueggemeyer TW. Application of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission and mass spectrometry to forensic analysis of sodium gamma-hydroxybutyrate and ephedrine hydrochloride. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 1995;10:177.
  14. Chappell JS, Meyn AW, Ngim KK. The extraction and infrared identification of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) from aqueous solutions. Journal of Forensic Sciences 2004;49(1):52.
  15. Catterton AJ. Identification of sodium gamma-hydroxybutyrate (NaGHB) by infrared spectroscopy, utilizing a 3 bounce diamond ATR element. Microgram 2001;34(1):15.
  16. Catterton AJ, Backstrom E, Bozenko JS. Lithium gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Journal of the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Association 2002;12(1):26.
  17. Andera KM, Evans HK, Wojcik CM. Microchemical identification of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Journal of Forensic Sciences 2000;45(3):665.
  18. Chew SL. Identification and quantitation of GHB by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 1999;5:41.
  19. Chew SL, Meyers JA. Identification and quantitation of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (NaGHB) by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Journal of Forensic Sciences 2003;48(2):292.
  20. Benson AJ, Sabucedo A, Furton KG. Detection and identification of Date-Rape drugs gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), scopolamine, diphenhydramine, and ketamine by refocused solid phase microextraction high performance liquid chromatography (SPME/HPLC), and solid phase microextraction high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME/HPLC/MS). Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2003;9:29.
  21. Blair S, Song M, Hall B, Brodbelt J. Determination of gamma-hydroxybutyrate in water and human urine by solid phase microextraction — gas chromatography/quadrupole ion trap spectrometry. Journal of Forensic Sciences 2001;46(3):688.
  22. Ciolino LA, Mesmer MZ, Satzger RD, Machal AC, McCauley HA, Mohrhaus AS. The chemical interconversion of GHB and GBL: Forensic issues and implications. Journal of Forensic Sciences 2001;46(6):1315.
  23. Ciolino LA, Mesmer MZ. Bridging the gap between GHB and GBL: Forensic issues of interconversion. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2000;6:44.
  24. Chappell JS. The non equilibrium aqueous solution chemistry of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. Journal of the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Association 2002;12(4):20.
  25. Witkowski MR, Ciolino LA, DeFrancesco JV. GHB free acid: More on issues of interconversion with isolation and spectroscopic characterization of forensic analysis. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2003;9:30.
  26. DeFrancesco JV. An NMR study of the stability of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) in water. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2003;9:32.
  27. Garcia AD, Lurie IS, Hulett L, Almirall JR. Quantitation of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and gamma-butyrolactone using capillary electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2001;7:28.
  28. Naisbitt GH, Murdock DS, McDaniel SR, Hopkins BJ, McNair JM. GHB determination by GC MS without complication or ambiguity from GBL. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2001;7:28.
  29. Meyers JE, Garcia AD, Almirall JR. The analysis of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) in forensic samples using GC/MS and H1-NMR. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2003;9:30.
  30. Beyerle TH. Optimum high performance liquid chromatography parameters for the quantitation of gamma-hydroxybutyrate and gamma-butyrolactone. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2000;6:44.
  31. Mesmer MZ, Satzger RD. Determination of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) by HPLC/UV-VIS spectrophotometry and HPLC/thermospray mass spectrometry. Journal of Forensic Sciences 1998;43(3):489 [published erratum appears in Journal of Forensic Sciences 1998;43(6):1259].
  32. Witkowski MR, Ciolino LA. Infrared (IR) spectroscopic identification of GHB free acid, GHB salts, and GBL. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2003;9:31.
  33. Vose J, Tighe T, Schwartz M, Buel E. Detection of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) as a natural component in wine. Journal of Forensic Sciences 2001;46(5):1164.
  34. Garcia AD, Catterton AJ. 1,4-Butanediol (BD) - Forensic profile. Microgram Journal 1(1-2), 44 (2003)
  35. Morris JA. Analogs of GHB. Part 2: Analytical perspective. Journal of the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Association 2001;11(1):16.
  36. McCauley HA, Machal AC, Ciolino LA, Mesmer MZ, Satzger RD. GHB, GBL, BD: A recipe for disaster. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2000;6:43.
  37. Morris JA. Analogs of GHB. Part 1: Theoretical perspective. Journal of the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Association 2000;10(2):18.
  38. Bishop SC, McCord BR, Svec F. Analysis of GHB and its analogs by capillary electrochromatography. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2002;8:268.
  39. Northrop DM. GHB analysis by capillary electrophoresis. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2001;7:27.
  40. Rees DK, Wasem SE, Patierno ER. Identification and quantitation of gamma-hydroxybutyrate in illicit drug samples. Journal of the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Association 2002;12(1):17.
  41. Wesley JF. Osmolality - A novel and sensitive tool for detection of tampering of adulterated with ethanol, gamma-butyrolactone, and 1,4-butanediol, and for detection of dilution-tampered demerol syringes. Microgram Journal 1(1-2), 8 (2003)
  42. Ramos MD, Teixeira LHP, Neto FRD, Barreiro EJ, Rodriguez CR, Fraga CAM. Chiral separation of gamma-butyrolactone derivatives by gas chromatography on 2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-beta-cyclodextrin. Journal of Chromatography A 2003;985(1-2):321.