Application of a simultaneous screening method for the detection of new psychoactive substances in various matrix samples using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Rationale Recently, new psychoactive substances (NPS) have emerged as a public health risk. Particularly, their chemical structures are modified to avoid detection. Synthetic NPS with effects similar to those of illegal drugs have been recently detected and synthesized worldwide, including MDMB‐FUBINACA and APINAC, making it essential to rapidly and accurately detect NPS. Methods Fourteen NPS with similar structures were selected and their structures identified using 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, we proposed the fragmentation pattern of each compound using liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (LC/QTOF‐MS). A simultaneous analytical method using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS/MS) was also developed and applied to real samples to detect the 14 NPS. The method was validated based on the specificity, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision, accuracy, matrix effect, and stability according to international validation guidelines. Results The established method was used to screen 65 different matrix samples using LC/ESI‐MS/MS. By comparing the calculated product ion ratios with those of standards, 2C‐B in one of the real samples and 5F‐MDMB‐PICA in 20 samples were identified. For re‐confirmation of detected compounds, the fragmentation pattern of each compound was compared with that of each standard using LC/QTOF‐MS. Conclusions In this study, LC/QTOF‐MS data were used to elucidate the structures and fragmentation patterns of 14 NPS. A simultaneous method was developed using LC/ESI‐MS/MS, which was applied to 65 real samples. The presented method and results can assist in ensuring the safety of public health from illegal adulteration.