CONFIRMATION OF THE ENANTIOMERS OF 1-METHYL-1,2,3,4-TETRAHYDROISOQUINOLINE IN THE MOUSE-BRAIN AND FOODS APPLYING GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY WITH NEGATIVE-ION CHEMICAL IONIZATION

With the aid of a new chiral derivatizing reagent and a sensitive and specific assay using capillary gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry, the proportions of R and S enantiomers of 1‐methyl‐1, 2, 3, 4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline (1MeTIQ) in mammalian tissues and foods were studied. R‐ and S‐1MeTIQ enantiomers derivatized with a chiral derivatizing reagent, perfluoro‐2‐propoxypropionylchloride, were clearly separated. The ratio of enantiomers was R/S = 0.24, 0.55 and 0.60 in wine, cocoa and mouse brain. S‐1MeTIQ predominated in all samples. This result suggested that 1MeTIQ could be formed at least partially through an enzymatic mechanism. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.