Detection of pentazocine and tripelennamine in urine.

Pentazocine and tripelennamine can be identified in urine as a part of routine screening for drug abuse. Pentazocine, pentazocine hydrate, and tripelennamine can be detected by thin-layer chromatography of chloroform/isopropanol extracts of heat- and acid-hydrolyzed urine. Gas chromatography is used for confirmation. Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric studies (chemical ionization mode) show that such extracts contain major molecular (M+) ions of m/e 256, 286, and 304, indicating the presence of tripelennamine, pentazocine, and pentazocine hydrate, respectively.