Determination of 4‐chloroindole‐3‐acetic acid methyl ester in Lathyrus, Vicia and Pisum by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry

Abstract 4‐Chloroindole‐3‐acetic acid methyl ester was identified unequivocally in Lathyrus latifolius L., Vicia faba L. and Pisum sativum L. by thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The gas chromatographic system was able to separate underivatized chloroindole‐3‐acetic acid methyl ester isomers. The quantitative determination of 4‐chloroindole‐3‐acetic acid methyl ester in immature seeds of these three species was performed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry using deuterium labelled 4‐chloro‐indole‐3‐acetic acid methyl ester as an internal standard. P. sativum contained approximately 25 mg kg ‐1 , V. faba 1–2 mg kg ‐1 and L. latifolius 2 mg kg ‐1 dry weight.