Measurement of low molecular weight urinary monoamines by gas chromatography

A simple gas chromatographic method for the measurement of low molecular weight urinary monoamines has been developed without use of a prior isolation procedure. The primary and secondary monamines in urine were directly converted into their 2,4-dinitrophenyl derivatives with 2,4-dinitrobenzensulfonate in aqueous alkaline solution, which after extraction with benzene and concentration, were submitted to gas chromatography. The application of this method to the determination of methylamine and dimethylamine in urine from normal subjects and hepatic patients is described.