Post-column derivatization and fluorimetric detection for the liquid chromatographic analysis of the potential memory-enhancing agent CL 275,838 in human plasma.

A chromatographic method for quantifying the potential memory-enhancing agent CL 275,838 (I) in human plasma with a limit of detection of 1.25 ng/ml is described. The procedure relies on isolation of the compounds from plasma constituents using the Sep-pack C18 cartridge, resolution by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and post-column oxidation of the eluate peak to from a derivative which can be measured by fluorescence detection. Peak height and compound I concentration were linearly related from 1.25 to 25 ng/ml. Intra- and inter-day validation studies indicated an acceptable precision and reproducibility of the method within the concentration range investigated, the overall coefficient of variation being less than 15%.