Identification of Free and Conjugated Metabolites of Methaqualone by Gas Chromatography—Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Gas chromatography—mass spectrometry was used to identify and measure methaqualone metabolites. All samples were silylated before analysis. Free and conjugated metabolites of methaqualone in urine, liver, and blood were studied in three suicide cases. Both free and conjugated metabolites were found in blood and urine, only free metabolites in liver. The conjugated metabolites were hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid. A comparison hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase showed that much of the sample was destroyed by hydrolysis with hydrochloric acid. Mass chromatography is presented as a computer-based gas chromatographic—mass spectrometric method.