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Application of analytical methods for the structural characterization and purity assessment of N,N-dimethyltryptamine, a potent psychedelic agent isolated from Mimosa tenuiflora inner barks


Web link: linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/...

Pages: 78 - 83

Abstract

N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a psychoactive indole alkaloid present in beverages consumed in religious ceremonies and in neo-shamanic rituals all around the world. It is a substance banned in most countries, which makes its acquisition difficult. In Brazil, a beverage rich in DMT named ayahuasca is legally consumed in a religious context. On the other hand, DMT is a controlled drug, enforced by the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária). The present study describes a simple and fast method to obtain N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) from inner barks of Mimosa tenuiflora for the purpose of using it as a chromatographic analytical standard. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), single and tan- dem stage mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H and 13C NMR) and melting point measurements were performed for the structural characterization of N,N-dimethyltryptamine. The results obtained were in agreement with previous literature reports. The purity of the compound (>95%) was deter- mined using ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectrometry with a tryptamine analytical standard.