DETERMINATION OF FREE SALSOLINOL CONCENTRATIONS IN HUMAN URINE USING GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY

The urine concentrations of free salsolinol were determined in six healthy volunteers, using a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method with electron-capture negative-ion chemical ionization after derivatization with pentafluoropropionyl anhydride. The sensitivity of this method allows the quantification of salsolinol concentrations of 0.55 pmol/ml. The synthesis of [H-2(4)]salsolinol from dopamine and [H-2(4)]acetaldehyde via a Pictet-Spengler condensation is described; [H-2(4)]salsolinol was used as the internal standard for salsolinol quantification. The urine concentrations of free salsolinol ranged from ca. 1 to 6 pmol/ml.