Purification of quinolines for bioassay by preparative liquid chromatography
Dong, M.; Schmeltz, I.; Hoffmann, D.
Journal of Chromatography 150(1): 269-272
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9673 PMID: 641121 Document Number: 126998
Quinoline, a reported carcinogen formed by pyrosynthesis during the combustion of nitrogen-containing organ compounds, is present in the suspended particulate matter of air as well as in the mainstream and sidestream cigarette smoke. It is also an important industrial chemical. In testing quinoline and methylquinolines for carcinogenicity and cocarcinogenicity, about 40 g of quinoline and 10 g of each of several alkylquinolines (2-methyl-, 4-methyl-, 8-methyl- and 2,4-dimethylquinoline) were required in purities greater than 99%. All of these quinolines were commercially available, and analysis revealed that some alkylquinolines were contaminated with isomeric products. The use of preparative liquid chromatography followed by fractional vacuum distillation allowed rapid and efficient purification of these chemicals in quantities sufficient for bioassay.