Gas chromatographic method for the determination of N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine, a metabolite of N,N-dimethylformamide and N-methylformamide, in human urine

J Chromatogr. 1988 Oct 14;431(2):361-8. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4347(00)83104-7.

Abstract

A simple method has been developed for the determination of N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine in human urine. Treatment of a urine sample (1 ml) with ethanol (2 ml) and potassium carbonate (1.5 g) produces ethyl N-methylcarbamate, which is extracted into ethanol and measured by packed column gas chromatography with nitrogen-sensitive detection. The limit of quantitation in human urine is 1 microgram/ml and the between-sample coefficient of variation is 5-11%. Simultaneously, N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methylformamide and formamide can also be determined.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Acetylcysteine / urine
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Dimethylformamide / urine*
  • Formamides / urine*
  • Humans

Substances

  • Formamides
  • N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine
  • Dimethylformamide
  • Acetylcysteine
  • methylformamide