Synthesis of DEHP metabolites as biomarkers for GC-MS evaluation of phthalates as endocrine disrupters

Bioorg Med Chem. 2005 May 16;13(10):3461-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2005.03.005.

Abstract

Phthalates are used primarily as plasticizers to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) soft and flexible. In recent years the phthalate esters have attracted increasing attention as environmental and biomedical pollutants and, because of their toxicological characteristics. In particular, they are more and more recognized as endocrine disrupters. In this context, we describe herein an efficient synthetic pathway leading to a series of metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Mono(2-ethylhexenyl) phthalate was used as starting material to obtain these products in good yield, large scale and GC-MS purity. The metabolites of DEHP were synthesized, for the first time, as biomarkers to verify their quantitative determination in human urine and serum by GC-MS analysis for studying the exposure to phthalates and establishing reference values.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / analysis*
  • Diethylhexyl Phthalate / analogs & derivatives*
  • Diethylhexyl Phthalate / analysis
  • Diethylhexyl Phthalate / chemical synthesis*
  • Endocrine Glands / drug effects*
  • Environmental Exposure*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Humans
  • Phthalic Acids* / blood
  • Phthalic Acids* / poisoning
  • Phthalic Acids* / urine
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Phthalic Acids
  • phthalic acid
  • Diethylhexyl Phthalate