Impurities in illicit amphetamine: review.

The paper reviews the most common synthesis of amphetamines which may be found in illicit traffic. Emphasis is laid on the detection, isolation and identification of impurities in illicit amphetamines through gas chromatography and thin-layer chromatography. The latter method was also used for isolation purposes. Impurities were identified by mass spectral and NMR spectroscopic methods and relevant data are presented.