Analysis of forensic samples using precolumn derivatization with (+)-1-(9-fluorenyl)ethyl chloroformate and liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

An indirect chiral separation of forensic methamphetamine samples by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was developed. Carbamate derivatives of the methamphethamine enantiomers were formed by using (+)-1-(9-fluorenyl)ethyl chloroformate. The response appeared to be linear from 16.7 to 1674.0 ng/ml (r = 0.9999) for each enantiomer. The relative standard deviations in the within-day and between-day assays for (S)-(+)-methamphetamine and (R)-(-)-methamphetamine are reported . As the developed procedure can also be used to determine ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, it will provide valuable information concerning the method of synthesis and the purity of the product.