ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 10

Determination of Propoxyphene in Biological Materials by Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry and Gas Chromatography
Wallace, JE
USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Texas

Blum, K
USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Texas

Ladd, SL
USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Texas

(Received 7 June 1971; accepted 1 September 1971)

Abstract

Propoxyphene has received widespread utilization as an analgesic agent. Originally thought to be nontoxic, the compound in recent years has been reported as a contributing agent in numerous intoxications of which several have been lethal [1]. The compound is a tertiary amino ester, α-d-4-dimethylamino-l-2-diphenyl-3-methyl-2-butanol propionate. Of the four possible stereoisomers only the α-d form has an analgesic effect [2–4]. Since propoxyphene absorbs ultraviolet radiation in the manner characteristic of benzenoid compounds, methods which utilize ultraviolet spectra of unconverted propoxyphene have little application to the analysis of this compound in biological systems [5].

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Paper ID: JFS10125J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10125J
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