Chromatography of methylenedioxyphenyl compounds

Abstract

There is no apparent paucity of paper and thin-layer chromatographic techniques that have been used both for isolation, proof of homogeneity and as analytical adjuncts to spectrometry (N.M.R., mass, I.R. and U.V.) for the identification of a broad spectrum of alkaloidal methylenedioxyphenyl alkaloids.

Gas chromatography, however, has not been as extensively employed either for structural elaboration studies or for routine forensic and toxicological analysis. In many cases dealing with gas-liquid chromatography of alkaloids, it has been found necessary to form a derivative and/or a treated support to obtain a satisfactory elution^106,116,117. The recent work of Street^244,245 in which it was found that the surface properties of diatomaceous earth and of oxidized stainless steel can be modified to produce GLC columns which show very little absorption and which can be used for analysis of submicrogram amounts of alkaloids holds great promise, particularly for the analysis of alkaloids in biological media.