ISOLATION, IDENTIFICATION AND SEPARATION OF ISOMERIC TRUXILLINES IN ILLICIT COCAINE

Seven out of the eleven possible intact isomeric truxillines present in illicit cocaine have been isolated and identified. These truxilline alkaloids included α-, β-, γ-, δ-, ε-, ω- and neo-isomers. The individual truxillines were characterized via high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection, capillary gas chromatography-electron ionization mass spectrometry and capillary supercritical fluid chromatography-flame ionization detection. α- and β-truxilline were also identified using nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Good resolution of the intact truxillines was obtained using high-performance liquid chromatography. © 1990.