Determination of the concentration of nitrogenous bio-organic compounds using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer operating in continuous flow mode.

The quality of the determination of compound-specific isotopic content at natural abundance by gas chromatography-isotope ratio measurement-mass spectrometry (GC-irm-MS) relies on the stability of the voltage generated by the ion detector Faraday cages. The application of GC-irm-MS to the determination of δ(13)C (‰) and δ(15)N (‰) is now routine. However, for numerous applications, it is necessary to determine both the isotope content (δ(15)N) and the quantity (in micromoles) of analyte present.

Determination of the natural abundance delta15N of nortropane alkaloids by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry of their ethylcarbamate esters.

An important route for the detoxification of tropane alkaloids involves N-demethylation to the nor-compounds followed by further degradation. In order to study the mechanisms of the pertinent reactions, a suitable means to determine the isotope ratios of the substrates and products is required. However, the polarity and functionality of the nortropane compounds makes their analysis as free bases difficult.