QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF 9-METHYLCARBAZOLES IN CIGARETTE SOMKE

An analytical method for the determination of 9-methyl carbazoles in cigarette smoke is described. The nonvolatile particulate matter of the smoke collected in solvent is distributed between two pairs of soivents and the resulting concentrate is chromatographed on alumina and subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography. 9-Methyl-14C-carbazole was synthesized and served as internal standard. The mainstream smoke of an 85-mm U.S. nonfilter cigarette contained 103 ng of 9-methylcarbazole, 11.8 ng of 1,9-dimethylcarbazole, 19.9 ng of 2,9- and 3,9-dimethylcarbazole, and 5.7 ng of 4,9-dimethylcarbazoie. 9-Ethylcarbazole was identified in a concentration of about 6 ng/cigarette. The identification of 9-aJkylcarbazoles in cigarette smoke represents their first isolation from a respiratory environment. The lack of biological data at this time does not permit a conclusion as to the possible biological significance of 9-methylcarbazoles in experimental tobacco carcinogenesis. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.