ENANTIOMERIC COMPOSITION OF NICOTINE IN SMOKELESS TOBACCO, MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, AND COMMERCIAL REAGENTS

The enantiomeric composition of nicotine in 18 smokeless tobaccos, 3 s trains of tobacco leaf, 8 pharmaceutical products, and 4 commercial re agents was determined. The relative amount of the minor enantiomeric c omponent, (R)-(+)-nicotine, ranged from similar to 0.1% to similar to 1.2% of the total nicotine in all samples. In some cases it appears th at (R)-(+)-nicotine may be considered one of the five most common alka loids in tobacco products. The highest level of (R)-(+)-nicotine was f ound in a commercial transdermal patch. The extraction and purificatio n processes used in obtaining commercial (S)-(-)-nicotine supplies fro m tobacco do not appear to decrease the amount of (R)-(+)-nicotine pre sent. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.