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Published:
Journal of Analytical Toxicology,
ISSN 0146-4760,
Volume 25,
Number 2, March 2001, pp. 88-92
In Vitro Reaction
of Formaldehyde with Fenfluramine: Conversion to N-Methyl Fenfluramine
Peter M. Gannett*,
Seble Hailu, Jonathan Daft, Devona James, Blanche Rybeck, and Timothy S. Tracy
West Virginia University, School of Pharmacy, Department of Basic Pharmaceutical
Sciences, P.O. Box 9530, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-9530
Embalming
is common, and it can create problems for the forensic scientist if a drug has
been the cause death and this drug is also reactive toward the embalming fluid.
Previous studies have focused on the tricyclic amines nortriptyline and desipramine.
In the presence of formaldehyde, a typical component of embalming fluid, either
of these two compounds can be rapidly converted to their methylated derivatives
amitriptyline and imipramine, respectively. We have begun a larger project designed
to determine the reactivity and reactions of a wide range of drugs with formaldehyde.
We report here our results from fenfluramine, which, like the tricyclic amines,
is reactive towards formaldehyde and is converted into its N-methyl derivative.
The rate of conversion is dependent upon pH and formaldehyde concentration.
Up to 100% conversion in 24 h was observed. In addition, we have also devised
a simplified procedure for monitoring this process that may be useful for others
working in this area. Finally, we note that the reactions of fenfluramine studied
here and of amines in general with formaldehyde need to be considered when performing
postmortem/postembalming forensic analysis. Reproduction
of editorial content of this journal is prohibited without publisher’s
permission.
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