Examining ∆8-THC Vaping Degradant Toxicant Formation
Date
8-11-2021 11:10 AM
Abstract
States prohibiting recreational and medical use of cannabis are seeing a rise in synthetic THC usage. This article will explore Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol, a phytocannabinoid with reported psychotropic effect. ∆8-THC is biosynthetically produced in Cannabis sativa plants. However, its concentration is minimal and needs to be semi-synthetically derived from hemp inflorescence to achieve substantial quantities. CBDA, a legal precursor to ∆8-THC synthesis, is extracted from female drug-type flowers containing less than 0.3% ∆9-THC. CBDA can be interconverted to ∆8-THC in the presence of a Lewis acid cyclization to form the defining benzopyran ring of THC analogs. ∆8-THC is mixed into cartridges for vaping and edible foods. The aim of this research was to analyze degradant toxicant formation in dabbing and handheld vaporizers.
Biographies
Michael Fernando, Biochemistry
Michael Fernando is a biochemistry major and honor student at Portland State University. He was an NSF-funded S-STEM scholar and is a U.S. Department of Education Ronald E McNair scholar. Michael joined the Strongin Group whose principal investigator is Dr. Strongin, a Professor of Organic Chemistry at PSU. Michael is a part of a team examining degradant toxicant formation in vaping. He was assigned to assess a semi-synthetic THC derived from hemp drug-type inflorescence. In the future, Michael intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry.
Dr. Robert Strongin, Faculty Mentor, Department of Chemistry
Dr. Robert M. Strongin is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at Portland State University. He received his B.A. degree in Chemistry (Honors) from Temple University. Upon graduation he worked as an industrial chemist at FMC Corporation and later at SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline). He then enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry. Dr. Strongin began his independent career upon receiving his doctorate as a member of the faculty in the Department of Chemistry at Louisiana State University. At LSU he rose steadily through the ranks to the level of endowed professor. In 2007 he was recruited by the Portland State University chemistry department, where he currently has an active research program focusing on tobacco and cannabis vaping, disease diagnostics, pharmaceutical design and synthesis and biomolecular mechanisms of disease. He is a founder of two biotech startup companies, and regularly chairs NIH study sections and an NIH/FDA panel on electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDs) toxicology. Dr. Strongin is an ardent supporter of underrepresented groups in STEM. He was the founding director of the IMSD Program at LSU and has also served as director of LSAMP at PSU. He has written four books and has coauthored over 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts that have been cited over 10,000 times. He has received research and teaching awards throughout his career. At PSU these have included the Presidential Career Research Award and the John Eliot Allen Teaching Award.
Disciplines
Chemistry
Subjects
Tetrahydrocannabinol, Cannabis, Vaping
Rights
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Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/36190
Captions
Fernande_∆8-THC and CBD-A Vaping Degradant Analysis.pdf (2951 kB)
Research Paper
Examining ∆8-THC Vaping Degradant Toxicant Formation
States prohibiting recreational and medical use of cannabis are seeing a rise in synthetic THC usage. This article will explore Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol, a phytocannabinoid with reported psychotropic effect. ∆8-THC is biosynthetically produced in Cannabis sativa plants. However, its concentration is minimal and needs to be semi-synthetically derived from hemp inflorescence to achieve substantial quantities. CBDA, a legal precursor to ∆8-THC synthesis, is extracted from female drug-type flowers containing less than 0.3% ∆9-THC. CBDA can be interconverted to ∆8-THC in the presence of a Lewis acid cyclization to form the defining benzopyran ring of THC analogs. ∆8-THC is mixed into cartridges for vaping and edible foods. The aim of this research was to analyze degradant toxicant formation in dabbing and handheld vaporizers.