"Definitive identification and differentiation of synthetic designer drugs can be challenging for forensic analysts due to the high structural similarities. The focus in this work was the characterization of synthetic phenethylamines, a common class of designer drugs, using mass spectrometry methods. A set of phenethylamine reference standards was analyzed using both low-resolution and high-resolution mass spectrometry and the mass spectra were probed to identify characteristic and distinguishing features. These features were integrated into a flowchart style characterization scheme for both low-resolution and high-resolution mass spectra. The characterization scheme for low-resolution data utilizes retention index and neutral losses to indicate phenethylamine structural subclass. Further, isotope patterns and characteristic mass spectral features give a preliminary indication of the identity of substituent. This scheme is immediately implementable into forensic practice because it exploits the instrumentation already used for the identification of controlled substances. The high-resolution version of the characterization scheme offers more robust characterization. From high-resolution mass analysis, exact mass and mass accuracy of each ion were determined and mass defect filters were developed. These mass defect filters were successful in characterizing compounds according to structural subclass. Overall, this research provides tools for the characterization of synthetic phenethylamines and highlights the potential for high-resolution mass spectrometry for forensic applications, should this instrumentation become available in forensic laboratories."--Page ii.
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