The detection of the urinary metabolites of 3-[(adamantan-1-yl)carbonyl]-1-pentylindole (AB-001), a novel cannabimimetic, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

3-[(Adamantan-1-yl)carbonyl]-1-pentylindole (AB-001), a synthetic cannabimimetic, was identified in head shop products in Ireland in 2010. German authorities also reported it to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) via the Early Warning System (EWS) in 2011. As indole-derived cannabimimetics, such as JWH-018, JWH-073, and JWH-250, undergo extensive metabolism, it was expected that AB-001 would behave similarly. To include it in our toxicological screening protocols, we have identified its urinary metabolites in humans following oral administration. The major metabolites were found to be adamantane mono-hydroxylated and adamantane mono-hydroxylated/N-dealkylated products. No parent compound was found in urine, and metabolites were detectable for up to 160 h following administration.