Determination of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(trans-4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea by reaction with 2,4-dinitro-β-henylethylamine

A method for the determination of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(trans-4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea (methyl-CCNU) in body fluids is described. After extraction from urine or plasma with diethyl ether, methyl is treated with 2,4-dinitro-β-phenylethylamine to. The urea is separated of the amine and treated with trifluacetic anhydride; the trifluoroacetyl derivative is quantified by gas chromatography. Calibration graphs were linear urine, plasma and aqueous standards of metal-CCNU over the range 0.4–2.0 μg ml. The limits of detection for methyl-CCNU are in urine and 0.08 μg ml^?1 in plasma.