The highly toxic organic compound brodifacoum exists as two diastereomers. The diasteromer ratio in a sample depends on the methods and conditions used for synthesis and purification, and may vary over time due to differential stability of the diastereomers. The stereoisomer distribution may thus be viewed as a chemical forensic signature, containing information about the production and history of unknown samples, and providing a basis of comparison between samples. A determination of diastereomer ratios can be performed by a number of techniques, notably gas or liquid chromatography or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. An analysis of a cross-section of U.S.-made commercial technical grade brodifacoum material shows that there are detectable manufacturer-to-manufacturer and batch-to-batch variations in diastereomer ratios. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy.
Revised: December 30, 2011 |
Published: January 10, 2012
Citation
Cort J.R., P.J. Alperin, and H.M. Cho. 2012.Measurement and analysis of diastereomer ratios for forensic characterization of brodifacoum.Forensic Science International 214, no. 1-3:178-181.PNNL-SA-68262.doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.08.003