title: Development of a method for the determination of zopiclone in whole blood.
abstract: Mass spectrometry in both electron-impact and positive chemical ionisation modes has been used to elucidate the structures of the decomposition products of zopiclone after gas chromatography. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of zopiclone in whole blood. After selective extraction (butyl chloride) the extracts are chromatographed on Spherisorb ODS-5 (5 microns) using dibasic ammonium phosphate-acetonitrile (40:60). The zopiclone is measured by ultraviolet detection with a limit of quantitation of 4 ng/ml. This method has been successfully applied to the determination of zopiclone in post-mortem blood. Zopiclone levels found in five post-mortem cases are presented.
authors: Institute of Environmental Health and Forensic Sciences, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Boniface
authors: I C
authors: IC
authors: Martin
authors: S L
authors: SL
authors: Nolan
authors: S T
authors: ST
authors: Tan
mesh_terms: D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D004583:Electrons; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000097:blood*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010879:Piperazines / Q000097:blood*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010879:Piperazines; C515050:zopiclone