RP-HPLC assay for 1,2-5,6-dianhydro-3,4-disuccinyl-galactitol and its metabolites in blood plasma and liver

A method involving pre-column derivatization and HPLC assay is described for measuring submicrogram quantities of 1,2-5,6-dianhydro-3,4-disuccinyl-galactitol (1,2-5,6-dianhydro-3,4-bis(carboxypropionyl)-galactitol), an effective cytostatic drug and its metabolites in blood plasma and liver homogenate. The substance and its metabolites were derivatized with sodium pentamethylene-dithiocarbamate to form different bis(dithiocarbamoyl) esters, which can be detected by UV absorbance at 254 and 280 nm. The directly derivatized products were then extracted into CHCl3, and after sample preparation resolved by RP-HPLC on SAS-Hypersil column.