A sensitive fluorimetric procedure for the determination of aliphatic epoxides under physiological conditions.

A highly sensitive fluorimetric procedure based on alkylation of nicotinamide is described for the determination of aliphatic epoxides. Subsequent reaction of the resulting N-alkylnicotinamides with a ketone in basic medium yields strongly fluorescent products after final acidification. Sensitivity of the assay is in the picomole range with good reproducibility. The alkylation reaction proceeds under physiological conditions and thus shows potential for the analysis of epoxides in biological materials. Despite rapid enzymatic detoxification, styrene oxide could be directly detected in 9000g supernatant liver fractions using the present approach.