Detection, isolation and characterization of normorphine and norcodeine as morphine metabolites in man

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Abstract
Normorphine and norcodeine were identified by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography (t.l.c.) as human urinary morphine metabolites from 24 h urine samples of three patients who had received 190–210 mg morphine sulphate intravenously and from one patient who had chronically received 220 mg morphine sulphate orally per day. Both metabolites were isolated by preparative t.l.c. Comparison of the isolated norcodeine and normorphine with their respective authentic compounds, prepared by chemical synthesis, showed identical melting points, mass fractionation patterns, and chemical ionization spectra, confirming t.l.c. identification.