Quantitation of N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-hydroxypropyl)-ethylenediamine in plasma by gas chromatography

A wide-bore capillary gas chromatographic method with nitrogen-selective thermionic detection is described for the quantitative analysis of N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine (Quadrol) in plasma. N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-hydroxybutyl)ethylenediamine is used as an internal standard. Rat or human plasma samples (0.5 ml) are mixed with internal standard, adjusted to alkaline pH and subjected to a single extraction with dichloromethane. Quadrol recovery from plasma typically exceeds 90%. The method is linear over the range 1.0-50 micrograms/ml. The working detection limit is 0.5 microgram/ml and the analysis time is under 7 min. The procedure has been used to obtain plasma concentration versus time data for the evaluation of Quadrol pharmacokinetics in rats.