Spectrophotofluorometric determination of some alkaloids containing a tertiary amine group.

The method developed involves the base-catalysed condensation of mixed anhydrides of organic acids, where a tertiary amine group functions as the basic catalyst. The product of the condensation reaction is highly fluorescent and allows the fluorometric determination of alkaloids containing a tertiary amine group, in the ng ml range. The mixed anhydride system is simple to prepare and the fluorogenic reaction is completed within 15 min at 80 degrees . The reaction is specific for, but does not distinguish between, different tertiary amines.