Clin Chem Lab Med. 2026 Jan 12. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2025-1428. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The rapid emergence of highly potent synthetic opioids represents a growing challenge for forensic and clinical laboratories.

METHODS: We report the first identification in Europe of methiodone (IC-26) and the first detection in France of cychlorphine in drug samples collected by a drug-checking service in Paris.

RESULTS: Preliminary screening by liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (LC-DAD) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed unknown peaks due to the lack of corresponding spectra in available spectral librairies. High-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) provided accurate mass measurements consistent with the cychlorphine and Methiodone formulas. Structural confirmation was obtained by 1D/2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Targeted LC-MS/MS quantified 5 % cychlorphine and 2 % methiodone, with no other psychoactive compounds detected.

CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the limitations of library-based screening and the value of multi-platform strategies integrating LC-HRMS, LC-MS/MS, and NMR for the early detection of emerging drugs.

PMID:41507112 | DOI:10.1515/cclm-2025-1428