Determination of epinephrine in the presence of degradation products.

The chemistry of the presently official method of analysis for epinehrine has been closely examined. Results show that the official procedure may lead to formation of other acetylation products in addition to the expected triacetylepinephrine (TAE). Evidence is also offered showing that some oxidation products are acetylated and extracted. A modification is proposed based on chromatographic isolation of TAE in place of the time-consuming extraction step and close control of the acetylation step. Results of a comparative study of four possible assay methods for epinephrine are also presented.