Gas chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of dopamine and norepinephrine metabolites

A new gas chromatographic method, using only flame ionization detection which can determine nanogram quantities of homovanillic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyleneglycol in the same reaction, is described. These compounds are treated with diazoethane and n-butylboronic acid. Homovanillic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid are converted to their ethyl esters while 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyleneglycol form cyclic boronates and are thus assayed. This method is quantitative, highly specific and sensitive. It has been applied to the analysis of these compounds in urine.