Characterization of digoxin and related cardiac glycosides by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry.

The potential of using fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry for the detection and the characterization of digoxin and a series of related cardenolide analogues was investigated. The spectra were dependent upon the type of support-matrix in which they were recorded; thioglycerol proved to be satisfactory for the characterization of digoxin and allowed for its detection in human urine extract spiked with ca 11 ng ml(-1).

Syntheses of 3-O- and 6-O-propanoylmorphine--a reinvestigation and correction.

3-O-Propanoylmorphine was obtained using the conditions reported earlier for the specific synthesis of 6-O-propanoylmorphine. The latter isomer was synthesized using two different methods; the two compounds were authenticated using IR, MS, carbon-13 and proton NMR.