Chromatographic separation of R/S-enantiomers of amphetamine and methamphetamine: Pathways of methamphetamine synthesis and detection in blood samples by qualitative enantioselective LC–MS/MS analysis

Abstract Methamphetamine can be synthesized either enantiopure or in its racemic form. We separated ( R )- and ( S )-enantiomers of methamphetamine and amphetamine by a fast LC–MS/MS-method using a Lux ® 3 μm AMP 150 × 3.0 mm analytical column after simple protein precipitation with methanol. Sufficient resolution could be achieved. Method validation for qualitative detection showed limits of quantification 99%) only ( S )-methamphetamine was detected which leads to the conclusion that, in Germany, predominantly enantiopure ( S )-methamphetamine is consumed which is synthesized via (1 R ,2 S )-ephedrine or (1 S ,2 S )-pseudoephedrine. However, racemic methamphetamine seems also to be on the market.