AB-FUBINACA, A SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID IN “FUNKY GREEN STUFF™”

Objective: The objective of this research was to isolate and identify any potential synthetic cannabinoids disguised in the commercially available claimed-to-be herbal scent, known as “Funky Green Stuff™”. Methods: Potential synthetic cannabinoids were extracted via percolating the content of the commercial herbal scent bag “Funky Green Stuff TM ” in methanol. Column chromatographic isolation afforded one main pure compound. Different spectral analyses established the identity of the isolated compound. Results: Chromatographic purification afforded 372 mg (5.2% w/w enrichment ratio) of pure needle crystals. Spectral analyses revealed the identity of the isolated compound as the synthetic cannabinoid AB-FUBINACA, confirming the assumption that a synthetic cannabinoid was disguised as an herbal scent product. Conclusion: Several scent herbal products, also known as “spice”, are used to disguise synthetic cannabinoids. Their detection proved to be troublesome since authentic standards are not yet available. The synthetic cannabinoid, AB-FUBINACA, was isolated from one of these products, and its identity was established based on its spectral data.

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