title: Use of stable isotopes in the elucidation of drug biotransformation processes.
abstract: This article surveys the role of stable isotope labelling and mass spectrometric detection in the recognition and characterization of drug metabolites. Applications of the so-called isotope cluster technique, useful for both recognition of drug-related compounds and elucidation of their structures, are presented. The use of deuterium-labelled g.l.c./mass spectrometric derivatization reagents to facilitate the determination of drug metabolite structures via 'peak shifts' is illustrated.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001711:Biotransformation; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007554:Isotopes; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007554:Isotopes; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations