DEUTERIUM-LABELED BENZYLADENINE: SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION AS A SURROGATE

N-6-Benzyladenine (benzyladenine), a plant growth regulator, was efficiently deuterated by the hydrogen deuterium (H D) exchange reaction catalyzed by palladium on carbon-ethylenediamine complex [Pd/C(en)], while use of palladium on carbon (Pd/C) as a catalyst led to a low deuterium incorporation at room temperature or complete removal of the N-6-benzyl group at 110 degrees C or higher temperature. The obtained benzyladenine-d(5) was used as an internal standard (surrogate) for the quantification of residual benzyladenine in fruits, vegetables, cereals, and beans using LC/MS/MS. Satisfactory recovery of benzyladenine between 94.2 and 105.7% (100.4% on the average) was obtained. The agrochemical could be detected within the concentration range of 0.25-0.50 ng/g in agricultural products using the present quantification method.