[HPLC-MS determination of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-oxypyridine]

An HPLC-ESI-MS method has been developed for determining 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-oxypyridine (EMO) in human urine upon peroral administration of this substance in form ofmexidol. Various sample preparation (extraction) procedures were tested and compared for evaluating the recovery and matrix effect. Solid-phase extraction procedure followed by derivation with dansyl chloride is proposed as a method of choice. The recovery of analyte was 48.1 +/- 3.4%, and the matrix effect was 99.4 +/- 4.1%. The MS and MS/MS spectra of EMO and its dansyl derivatives are presented and interpreted. The analyses were performed using a mass spectrometer of the ion trap type with electrospray ionization at atmospheric pressure, operating in the regime of positive ion detection.