Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
CH
3
N
H
3
C
O
O
CH
3
O
O
O
Figure 8.4
Molecular structure of diacetylmorphine.
benzodiazepines and barbiturates. (
Note:
The Balkan route has three main
trafficking pathways: The northern route runs from Bulgaria, Romania and
Turkey to Poland, Germany, Hungary and Austria; the southern route runs
through Greece, Turkey, Italy and Albania; and the central route runs through
Turkey, Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia,
Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and into either Italy
or Austria.
3
) Items suspected of containing heroin will be examined, as with
cannabis, initially with presumptive colour tests. The Marquis reagent will
give a violet-purple colour if an opiate is present. Again, TLC can be used;
however, acidified potassium iodoplatinate will be used to visualise any opi-
ates. Light of 254 and 360 nm will again be used, as with cannabinoids.
Confirmation and quantitation will subsequently be carried out using
GC-MS. Opiates can be analysed derivatised or underivatised. When deriva-
tisation is carried out, BSA will be used to produce a trimethylsilyl derivative.
The purity of Afghan heroin is approximately 70%, but this is much
higher than what is sold on the global streets. Heroin can contain between
0% and 35% opiates.
Cocaine is derived from ecgonine alkaloids present in the leaf of the coca
plant (
Erythroxylon
species). It is typically found in the form of a cocaine
hydrochloride or as free base (commonly known as 'crack'). The leaves from
the coca plant tend to be mixed with calcium hydroxide and water and the
mixture is crushed and stirred in a hydrocarbon solvent (typically kerosene
or paraffin). The extracted coca leaf pulp is rejected and hydrocarbon solvent
is extracted with acidified water. Cocaine alkaloids are then extracted into
the aqueous layer and coca paste is precipitated by addition of a base (such as
calcium hydroxide or ammonia). This coca paste is then dissolved in sulph-
uric acid to produce ecgonine. Potassium permanganate can be added at this
point to remove cinnamoylcocaine isomers that may be present. The solution
is typically left to stand and the filtrate is made basic to produce cocaine base,
which is further dissolved in ether. This solution is filtered and hydrochloric
acid is added to produce the hydrochloride salt. Adding sodium bicarbonate
to the wet mixture and heating in the microwave can produce the 'crack'
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