BTMPS Detection with Amplifi ID
Bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate, abbreviated as BTMPS, is an industrial-grade compound used in plastic manufacturing. It was not designed or approved for human or animal consumption. The compound is corrosive and has known negative health risks listed on the safety data sheets from its suppliers (check out a PDF of SDS from Sigma-Aldrich here).
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In late 2024 Spectra Plasmonics added BTMPS to Amplifi ID’s Bulk Scan library for Drug Checking in response to its recent emergence across the US drug supply.
Our team tested and collected spectra of both the "free base" and hydrochloride salt versions of the substance. The hydrochloride salt is what is reported to show up in the drug supply, as its soluble in water whereas the free base is not.
Comparison of the Raman spectra of BTMPS "Free base" and BTMPS-HCl.
BTMPS can be readily acquired from chemical manufacturers given that it is not a controlled substance. When our team was working with this compound in the lab, one observation we made was that its density was noticeably lower than other common cuts found in drug samples, such as sugar and caffeine, which could explain its possible use as a bulking agent. However, the reasons for it being found in the drug supply are still unknown.
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The UNC Street Drug Analysis Lab from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a comprehensive post on BTMPS’s properties, emergence, and theories as to why it has made its way into the drug supply. Most experts agree that this compound should be avoided given its adverse health impacts.
Visual comparison of BTMPS and two common cutting agents Mannitol and Caffeine at the same approximate weight.
Acknowledgements
We thank our collaborators, Dr. Carlos Escobedo and Dr. Hridaynath Bhattacharjee from Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, for the support and knowledge provided.