Identification and characterisation of the recently detected cathinone N-cyclohexyl pentylone

Synthetic cathinones are one of the most consumed new psychoactive substances (NPS) in New Zealand and around the world. The combination of the ease of manufacture and simple modification of the chemical structure of cathinone lends this class of stimulants as one that is difficult to predict and legislate. A major challenge in the rapid identification of NPS is access to valid spectra and reference material and with the constantly changing landscape of these “designer drugs”, these are difficult to obtain. This paper reports a new synthetic cathinone, N- cyclohexyl pentylone, which was detected within in a sample received from Drug Checking Service Provider, New Zealand Drug Foundation (NZDF). Structural elucidation and characterisation were carried out using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). • Characterisation of a new synthetic cathinone (N-cyclohexyl pentylone). • First detection in New Zealand. • Sample collected from Drug Checking Service Provider, New Zealand Drug Foundation.