Gas-liquid chromatography of dialkyl, alkyl acyl, and diacyl ddrivatives of glycerol

Dialkyl, alkyl acyl, and diacyl glycerols were resolved as trimethylsilyl ethers and as acetates by gas-liquid chromatography on a nonpolar stationary phase (OV-1). The two types of derivatives proved suitable for quantitative gas chromatographic analysis.     

Use of reversed phase HP liquid chromatography to assay conversion of N-acylglycines to primary fatty acid amides by peptidylglycine-alpha-amidating monooxygenase

Primary fatty acid amides (R-CO-NH2) and N-acylglycines (R-CO-NH-CH2-COOH) are classes of compounds that have only recently been isolated and characterized from biological sources. Key questions remain regarding how these lipid amides are produced and degraded in biological systems. Relative to the fatty acids, little has been done to develop methods to separate and quantify the fatty acid amides and N-acylglycines. We describe reversed phase HPLC methods for the separation of C2-C12 primary fatty acid amides and N-acylglycines and also C12-C22 fatty acid amides. Separation within each class occurs primarily on the basis of simple interactions between the acyl chain and the chromatographic stationary phase, but the polar headgroups on these and related fatty acids and N-acylethanolamides modulate the absolute retention in reversed phase mode. We use these methods to measure the enzyme-mediated, two-step conversion of N-octanoylglycine to octanoamide.     

Capillary gas chromatography of pyrimidines and purines: N,O-peralkyl and trifluoroacetyl-N,O-alkyl derivatives

Preparation and capillary gas chromatographic properties of volatile derivatives of eighteen pyrimidine and purine nucleic acid bases are described. N,O-peralkylation using methylsulfinyl carbanion, methyl or ethyl iodide reagent, and alkylation preceded by N-trifluoroacetylation produced derivatives having minimal adsorption and tailing compared with trimethylsilyl derivatives. Relative retention times and linearity of flame ionization or nitrogen—phosphorus detector response were measured using polar (Superox-FA) and apolar (SE-30) liquid phases. Application of gas chromatography—mass spectrometry to derivatives of DNA hydrolysates using mass chromatography is demonstrated.     

The use of capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the determination of acidic dopamine metabolites in human brain

A capillary gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method was developed for the determination of homovanillic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in discrete areas of human brain known to contain only small amounts of dopamine metabolites. The electron impact mass spectra of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of homovanillic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and their deuterated isotopic variants were used for their identification and quantification.     

Gas-liquid chromotography of trimethylsilyl and alkyl oxime-trimethylsilyl derivatives of some prostaglandins

TMS (trimethylsilyl), MO-TMS (methyl oxime-TMS), and EO-TMS (ethyl oxime-TMS) derivatives of several prostaglandins (A, B1, B2, E1, 8-iso-E1, E2 and 8-iso-E2) were prepared and their gas chromatographic properties examined on a moderately polar (OV-17) and a relatively non-polar (SE-30) stationary phase. Combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using an LKB 9000 instrument was used to identify the different derivatives. Although the TMS derivatives are more easily prepared, the TMS derivatives of the PgE series are thermally somewhat unstable. Thus, MO-TMS and EO-TMS derivatives which exhibit more regular retention increments are more useful for analytical work. The EO-TMS derivatives may be useful in determining mass spectral fragmentation modes of the prostaglandin derivatives.     

Determination of prostaglandins and thromboxane as their pentafluorobenzyl-trimethylsilyl derivatives by electron-capture gas chromatography

The optimization of the parameters affecting the chromatographic properties and separation of prostaglandin pentafluorobenzyl derivatives by gas chromatography using electron-capture detection is described. The effects of composition and flow-rate of carrier gas, temperatures of detector and column, and nature of stationary phases on the detector response to different pentafluoroebenzyl (both oxime and ester) trimethylsilyl ether derivatives of prostaglandins were systematically examined. The stability of some selected prostaglandin derivatives at ?20°C was also determined. After standardizing these parameters, prostaglandins and related compounds from biological samples, e.g. semen, rat aorta, dog serum and trout gill were successfully analyzed. Identification of prostaglandins was confirmed by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry.     

Superior gas-liquid chromatography of methyl cholanoate acetates on cyanopropylphenylsiloxane liquid phases

The resolution and recovery of mixtures of the methyl ester acetates of synthetic and natural bile acids are excellent on gas-liquid chromatographic columns prepared with 1–3% OV-225 on 100–200 mesh Gas Chrom Q. The columns are operated isothermally at 250–260°C with helium as carrier gas and conventional gas chromatographic equipment. Under these conditions, complete separation of the major bile acids of rat and human bile is obtained in 30–60 min. This method of analysis is superior to that based on the trifluoroacetyl or trimethylsilyl derivatives, using OV-225 or other liquid phases.     

GLC method for microdetermination of catecholamines (author's transl)

A gas liquid chromatographic method for determination of catecholamines in small sample is described. The method involves homogenization of biological material into 0,1 M formic acid 5 mM ascorbic acid and subsequent conversion in their trimethylsilyl derivatives with BSA reagent and determined on 3% OV-1 column in a isothermal condition at 220 degrees C with the cromatograph equipped with hydrogen flame ionization. With respect to specificity, reproducibility and recovery, the results were satisfactory.     

Diurnal Changes in Uric Acid Metabolism of Rats Fed a Casein Diet

Direct gas chromatographic determination of tobacco smoke was developed. Tobacco smoke condensate was collected on a glass fiber filter and the components were converted into their trimethylsilyl derivatives and then subjected to glass capillary column gas chromatography. By this method, all tobacco smoke components, including unstable phenolic substances and water-soluble polyhydroxy compounds, were simultaneously determined. Compositional differences between lamina and midrib smoke of flue-cured tobacco leaves were also clarified by the method. The results indicate that there are quantitative differences in nicotine, phenols, levoglucosan, quinic acid γ-lactone and the other major components between lamina and midrib smoke.     

Gas chromatographic-mass spectral characteristics of aporphine and tetrahydroprotoberberine alkaloids

The gas chromatographic (GC) and mass spectrometric (MS) properties of the silyl derivatives of aporphine and tetrahydroprotoberberine alkaloids are described. Selected representatives of these chemical classes of pharmacologically active bases were chromatographed on polar (OV-17) and nonpolar (OV-1) columns as their trimethylsilyl derivatives. The aporphines were eluted before the tetrahydroprotoberberines on both the polar and nonpolar columns. Simultaneous resolution of mixtures of aporphines and tetrahydroprotoberberines was readily achieved on the OV-1 column. An SE-30 column, used for combined GC-MS analysis, gave a similar resolution of these alkaloids. The mass spectra observed for the silylated 1,2,9,10-substituted aporphines were similar to those of underivatized aporphines, while the mass spectra of the silylated 1,2,10,11-substituted aporphines differed markedly from the spectra of the underivatized alkaloids. Although the mass spectra of the silylated derivatives of the 2,3,9,10- and 2,3,10,11-substituted tetrahydroprotoberberines were identical, these isomeric derivatives were separated by gas chromatography.     

Quantitative determination of 6-Oxo-PGF1 alpha in biological fluids by gas chromatography mass spectrometry

A selected ion monitoring method for the determination of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha, the stable end-product of prostacyclin, in biological fluids has been developed. In this method, biosynthetically prepared [2H6]-6-oxo-PGF1 alpha is used as internal standard. The method involves extraction, thin-layer chromatography purification and derivatization into the methyl ester, methoxime, trimethylsilyl ether derivatives by carrying out the methoximation first. Quantitative gas chromatographic mass spectrometric analysis is performed in the electron impact mode by monitoring the [M - (TMSOH + CH3O)]+ fragment ions. The use of this method in the measurement of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha in serous fluids and in incubation media of serous tissues is described.     

The occurrence of abscisic acid in inhibitors B1 and C from immature fruit of Ceratonia siliqua L. (carob) and in commercial carob syrup

Summary The presence of abscisic acid in the inhibitors B₁ and C from immature carob fruit, whole and minus seed, has been established by thin-layer and gas chromatography and by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Abscisic acid has been identified in commercial carob syrup by the same means. Most, if not all, of the growth inhibitory activity in these fractions is accounted for as abscisic acid by quantitative gas chromatography as the methyl ester. Trimethylsilylation of abscisic acid with bis (trimethylsilyl) acetamide in pyridine gives two isomeric tris(trimethylsilyl) derivatives.     

Synthesis and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of reduced compounds derived from 6 alpha- and 6 beta-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone

A series of thirty two 6-hydroxylated steroids were synthesized by selective reduction of the 4-5 double bond, the 3-oxo group, and/or the 20-oxo group of 6 alpha- and 6 beta-hydroxyDOC. The different reactions leading to the production of specific isomers are discussed. The gas chromatographic and spectrometric characteristics of the methoxime-trimethylsilyl (MO-TMS) or trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of the isomers obtained are given. The gas chromatographic separation of the syn- and anti-isomers of the methoxime in position 3 was found to be characteristic of the configuration of the hydroxyl in position 6. The difference between methylene unit values of syn- and anti- isomers is much larger for the 6 alpha-series than for the 6 beta-series. The mass spectral analysis showed that many ions are specific of the MO-TMS derivatives of steroids with 3,6-dihydroxy-4-ene or 3-oxo-6-hydroxy-4-ene structure. In the case of steroids with a saturated ring A no significant ions characteristic of the presence of a 6-trimethylsilyloxy substituent were found. This work provides previously unavailable reference data on 6-hydroxylated steroids which should facilitate the study of corticosteroid metabolism.     

Separation of mono- and diglycerides by gas--liquid chromatography

The parameters affecting the separation and quantification of trimethylsilyl ethers of mono- and diglycerides have been investigated by gas-liquid chromatography with QF-1 and SE-30 as stationary phases and a flame ionization detector. Results have been compared with those obtained earlier for triglycerides. The isothermal characteristics of a range of trimethylsilyl ethers of mono- and diglycerides on both stationary phases showed that log retention volume was directly proportional to carbon number and inversely proportional to absolute temperature. However, glyceride derivatives with lower carbon numbers deviated from these relationships. By using various rates of programmed temperature rise, we have determined the elution temperatures (Kelvin scale) of the mono- and diglyceride trimethylsilyl ethers relative to that of glycerol trilaurate. The "carbon equivalent of a trimethylsilyl group" is defined and shown to be useful in comparing the chromatographic properties of different glyceride classes. Weight and molar correction factors have been obtained and used to analyze diglycerides derived from egg and bovine brain lecithins.     

Rapid Diagnosis of Infection by Gas-Liquid Chromatography: Analysis of Sugars in Normal and Infected Cerebrospinal Fluid

A highly reproducible procedure was developed for gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of trimethylsilyl derivatives of normal human cerebrospinal fluid. Fourteen normal human cerebrospinal fluid samples tested with this procedure contained alpha- and beta-glucose as well as isomers of two unidentified sugars. Chromatographic changes in three cases of meningeal inflammation (two cryptococcosis and one thalamic astrocytoma) were limited to decreased concentrations of all sugars. In one case of early meningitis, the concentrations of the unknown sugars decreased before glucose. Now that a reproducible chromatogram of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of normal human cerebrospinal fluid has been established, more samples of abnormal cerebrospinal fluid should be prepared by these methods and examined by gas-liquid chromatography. It may be possible to identify unique products of infectious agents which will permit rapid diagnosis of central nervous system infection.     

A capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometric method for the quantification of hydroxysteroids in human plasma

A specific and sensitive methodology for the quantitative determination of hydroxysteroids dehydroepiandrosterone and pregnenolone and their main metabolites in human plasma is described. Hydroxysteroids were extracted using methanol and steroids were further separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, allowing for minimization of the possible chromatographic interferences. Eluted fractions were collected, pooled, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as trimethylsilyl ether derivatives. The quantification was performed with single-ion monitoring of the highly abundant m/z 129 or m/z 358 fragments. The combination of the chromatographic characteristics to the specific fragments ensured the selectivity and specificity of the method. Under these conditions the method was linear (typical R2 is superior to 0.98 for all hydroxysteroids studied) over the concentration range of 2 x 10(-9) to 10(-6)M with good precision and accuracy.     

Semimicro quantitative determination of carbohydrates in plant material by gas-liquid chromatography

Gas-liquid chromatographic identification and estimation of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of sugars commonly found in plant material has been described. Quantitative determinations were conducted at the semimicro level, and complete removal of water was not necessary using the silylating agent trimethylsilylimidazole. The method was also applied to starch determination by estimating directly the glucose produced by hydrolysis with amyloglucosidase. The accuracy of the method from analysis of known sugar mixtures was within 6%.     

Determination of morphine in urine by gas chromatography

A rapid and sensitive method for determination of morphine in human urine using gas chromatography is described. The method involves charcoal absorption and solvent extraction of morphine followed by gas chromatographic analysis of the trimethylsilyl derivative. It is possible to detect morphine by this method more than 96 hrs after injection.     

Chromatographic behavior of oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol

Oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol have important functions in many biochemical processes. These oxysterols are difficult to study because of their low physiological concentrations, the facile formation of cholesterol autoxidation artifacts, and lack of information on their chromatographic behavior. Focusing on metabolites and autoxidation products of cholesterol, we have documented the chromatographic mobilities of 35 oxysterols under a variety of conditions: eight solvent systems for thin-layer chromatography on silica gel, several mobile phases for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and two types of stationary phase for capillary gas chromatography (GC) using trimethylsilyl derivatives. Notable differences in selectivity could be obtained by modifying the stationary or mobile phases. Separations of oxysterol pairs isomeric at side-chain carbons or C-7 were achieved on normal-phase, reversed-phase, chiral, or silver-ion HPLC columns. Chromatographic behavior is also described for side-chain hexadeuterated and heptafluorinated oxysterols, which are useful as standards in isotope dilution analyses and autoxidation studies, respectively. The overall results are relevant to many problems of oxysterol analysis, including the initial separation of oxysterols from cholesterol, determination of highly polar and nonpolar oxysterols, separation of isomeric pairs, selection of derivatization conditions for GC analysis, and quantitation of the extent of cholesterol autoxidation.     

Capillary gas-liquid chromatography of glycine-conjugated bile acids without prior hydrolysis

A method is described for the gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) analysis of intact glycine conjugates of the major bile acids present in human plasma. It is, therefore, now possible to analyze glycine-conjugated and unconjugated bile acids together on a single GLC column without the necessity for a hydrolytic step. A large number of derivatives of bile acid glycine conjugates were examined, but only acetate- and silyl ether-derivatives of carboxylic acid methyl esters were found initially to be suitable. It was not possible to make acetates consistently, and trimethylsilyl ethers did not allow resolution of the glycine conjugates of cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids. Dimethylethylsilyl ether methyl ester derivatives were subsequently found to give the best results. Chromatographic conditions for successful analysis of these derivatives were examined and it was found to be necessary to use wall-coated capillary columns of thin film thickness (0.12 micron) and very high carrier gas flow rates (ca. 20 ml/min hydrogen). Using acetonitrile and Bond Elut extraction, fractionation on Sep-Pak SIL cartridges, and derivatization as dimethylethylsilyl ether methyl esters, the capillary gas-liquid chromatography of intact glycine-conjugated bile acids from human plasma was demonstrated for the first time.