Cocaine and Benzoylecgonine Determinations in Postmortem Samples by Gas Chromatography

Abstract

A method is presented for simultaneous gas chromatographic determinations of cocaine end benzoylecgonine in biological fluids and tissues. The method involves an extraction cleanup and elkylation of benzoylecgonine using phase-transfer catalysis by tetrahexylammonium chloride. Data regarding the distribution of cocaine end benzoylecgonine in postmortem samples ore presented, and evidence is presented for the detection of cinnamoylcocaine and cinnamoylecgonine in fluids from some cocaine abusers.