A method for the rapid detection of the zopiclone degradation product 2-amino-5-chloropyridine

✍ Scribed by J.H. Galloway; I.D. Marsh; C.M. Newton; A.R.W. Forrest

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 947 KB
• Volume: 39
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1355-0306
• DOI: 10.1016/s1355-0306(99)72056-3

✦ Synopsis

Zopiclone (Zimovane) is a cyclopyrrolone compound which exhibits hypnotic and sedative effects while also exhibiting anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant activities. The detection and quantification of zopiclone is difficult. It has a high molecular weight compared to most other commonly used drugs, therapeutic levels are not high, and it is unstable in nucleophilic solvents. A degradation product of zopiclone, 2-amino-5-chloropyridine (ACP) together with a method for its detection using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection has been described previously. An account is presented of a simple method for the detection of ACP using gas chromatography with mass selective detection (GC/MS) which will facilitate detection of zopiclone use as part of a routine screen.