In this study, we present identification and physicochemical characterization of new cathinone derivatives, 4-fluoro-PV9 and already known α-PHP in seized materials. Although the disclosure of α-PHP from an illegal product had been reported and characterized to some extent, the data on α-PHP are also presented together with those of 4-fluoro-PV9. The data of characterization for the two compounds were obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–mass spectrometry and HPLC–diode array detection, electrospray ionization/ion trap mass spectrometry in MS² and MS³ modes, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. To our knowledge, this is the first report for identification and detailed characterization of 4-fluoro-PV9 circulated on the illegal drug market.

Comprehensive chemical characterization for two cathinone derivatives, N-ethyl-2-amino-1-phenylpropan-1-one (ethcathinone) hydrochloride and N-ethyl-2-amino-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-propan-1-one (4-chloroethcathinone, 4-CEC) hydrochloride, in material seized by drug enforcement agencies was performed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in positive electron ionization mode, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry in positive electrospray ionization mode and X-ray crystallography. The examined samples of these two compounds proved to be very pure for ethcathinone and mixed with very small quantities of other substances for 4-CEC by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. X-ray crystallographic studies confirmed the occurrence of both compounds as racemic mixtures. These spectroscopic and crystallographic data seem very useful for their identification. Especially for 4-CEC, this is the first description on its spectroscopic characterization in a scientific context to our knowledge.