Aminoethylcysteine ketimine decarboxylated dimer detected in normal human urine by gas-liquid chromatography, selected-ion monitoring and mass spectrometry.

Aminoethylcysteine ketimine is a biochemical product known to be converted spontaneously in the decarboxylated dimer. Since the ketimine has been detected in a mammalian brain, it was assumed that also the dimer could be present in the mammalian body and eventually excreted in the urine. Using human urine as the biological source, an extract was prepared which, submitted to gas-liquid chromatography, selected-ion monitoring and mass spectrometry, indicated the presence of the dimer.