Determination of telenzepine in human serum by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method for determining telenzepine in human serum is described. Analytes are obtained from alkalinized serum by extraction of the drug using reversed-phase octadecylsilane-bonded silica cartridges. Telenzepine and a desmethyl analogue added to serum as internal standard are retained on the C18 cartridge and recovered by elution with methanol. The gas chromatographic properties of telenzepine and the internal standard are improved by a two-step derivatization involving a benzodiazepinone-benzimidazole rearrangement and simultaneous formation of a methyl ester function. The processed extract is analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring. Quantification is linear over the range 2-40 ng/ml. Inter-day precision is within 7%, except at the detection limit of 2 ng/ml (16%). Application of this assay to routine analysis is limited by the extensive sample pretreatment essential for derivatization of telenzepine.