Analysis of Red Dawn Vector ShotsAnalysis of Red Dawn Vector ShotsRyan Crowder and Victoria Geisler

Department of Chemistry, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, Georgia 30118

IntroductionIntroduction

Red Dawn Vector Shot is a substance that can be bought legally. It is advertised as being a mood and euphoria enhancer, and is compared to the illegal drug ecstasy. The purpose of this research is to find out what chemicals are in Red Dawn Vector shots, and then compare them to the listed ingredients. Also effects of the individual chemicals will be listed to show that just because Red Dawn Vector Shots are legal, it does not mean that it is safe.

To do this, a standard extraction procedure was used to separate the organic acid, organic base, and organic neutral. Samples of these three will then be put threw the Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry machine.

MethodsMethodsIn order to extract the organic acid, organic base, and organic neutral from the Red Dawn Vector Shot the Red Dawn liquid was poured into a separatory funnel along with 1M HCl and Methylene Chloride (trial 1) or Ethyl Acetate (trial 2). The organic and aqueous layers were separated, and the organic layer was washed with NaOH and the aquesous layer was neutralized with 2M NaOH. The organic layer was dried and rotovaped to give the organic base. Methylene Chloride (trial 1) or Ethyl Acetate (trial 2) was added to to combined aqueous layers and separated into the organic acid and a disposable aqueous layer. NaOH was then added to the first aqueous layer to separate it into the organic base and another disposable aqueous layer. Samples were then taken of the organic acid, organic neutral and the organic base and run threw the GC machine.

ReferencesReferences1. http://www.wikipedia.org/2. http://www.supplementstogo.com/vectorshot.html

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsDr. Victoria Geisler, Research AdvisorNational Science Foundation, STEP Grant # DUE-0336571All the chemistry professors at the University of West Georgia.

Supported By

NSF REU and STEP

Listed Ingredients and their effects on the human body

5-Hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP is marketed as an antidepressent, appetite suppressant, and sleep aid.

L-Theanine has been shown to reduce mental and physical stress and may produce feelings of relaxation.

4-amino-3-Phenylbutyric acid May reduce symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, May reduce symptoms of anxiety, May suppress appetite, May help with premenstrual symptoms, Helpful for some cases of depression.

Caffeine acts as a stimulant.

Yohimbine is sometimes used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. It may create numerous side effects such as rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and overstimulation, anxiety, insomnia and sleeplessness.

Synephrine is a drug aimed at fat loss. an alternative to ephedrine, a related substance which has been made illegal due to concerns about potential problems with heart disease risk and its use in methamphetamine manufacture.

4-amino-3-Phenylbutyric acid

O

OH

NH2

5-htp

NH

HNH2

OH

O

N

NN

N

H

HC3

CH3

HC3

O

O

Caffine

HO NH

O

NH2

O

L-Theanine

Synephrine

HO

OH

NH

Yohimbine

NH H

NH

OH

O

O

HH

Cl

ResultsResults

Red Dawn + 1M HCl

+ CH2Cl2 (trial 1) orEthyl Acetate (trial 2)

Washed with 2M NaOH

Neutralized with 2M NaOH

Dried and rotovaped to give

Organic BaseDiscarded

Dried and rotovaped to give

Organic Neutral

Acidified with 1M HCl

Dried and rotovaped to give

Organic AcidDiscarded

Aqueous LayerAqueous Layer Aqueous LayerAqueous Layer

Organic LayerOrganic Layer

Separation flow chart

Results in Table 1are from trial 1 in which methylene chloride was used as the extraction solvent. It was verified that caffeine as well as saccharin, an artificial sweetener that is not listed in the ingredients, exist in Red Dawn.

Organic LayerOrganic Layer Organic LayerOrganic Layer

Aqueous LayerAqueous Layer

Organic LayerOrganic Layer Aqueous LayerAqueous Layer

*Caffeine was verified as being an actual ingredient.

Retention

Time m/e Possible Identification

6.0 177 4-amino-3-phenylbutyic acid

6.7 177 4-amino-3-phenylbutyic acid

9.8 161 ?10.9 194 Caffeine*

Table 1: GC/MS results from trial 1

MS Results for Caffeine:

GC results for neutral fraction of trial 2

Caffeine

Saccharin