Identification of new urinary metabolites in man of quinine using methane chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

1. Six new metabolites of quinine have been identified in urine of man by methane chemical ionization g.l.c.--mass spectrometry. 2. Metabolites identified were: unchanged quinine and dihydroquinine, 3-hydroxyquinine, 3-hydroxydihydroquinine, 6'-hydroxycinchonidine, 6'-hydroxydihydrocinchonidine, quinine-10,11-epoxide and quinine-10,11-dihydrodiol. 3. 10-Chloro-11-hydroxydihydroquinine was identified as an artifact of the isolation procedure. 4. Chloroquine and desethylchloroquine (artifacts) were identified in the urine, 17 days after completion of a 48 h treatment with chloroquine.