Gas-Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Diethylstilbestrol Monomethyl Ether in Diethylstilbestrol
Abstract A gas chromatographic method is described for the determination of the monomethyl ether of diethylstilbestrol (MME) in diethylstilbestrol (DES). A 1 g sample of DES is dissolved in an aqueous solution of 0.5N sodium hydroxide and extracted with a chloroform solution containing benefin, the internal standard. The chloroform solution is back-extracted with sodium hydroxide, and an aliquot is chromatographed after silylation. The MME peaks (cis and trans') are measured relative to the internal standard peak. The method was tested for accuracy within the 120—2000 ppm range, and a linear plot of detector response vs. concentration was obtained. The method is also suitable for the determination of diethylstilbestrol dimethyl ether (DME) if present with MME in a DES sample.