Abstract: This invention provides a method for preparing a hydroxyalkyl tropane ester, comprising: (a) contacting a tropane and 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole to produce an activated tropane ester; (b) contacting the activated tropane ester with an excess of an alkanediol to form a reaction mixture; and (c) maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature and for a sufficient time for the activated tropane ester to react with the alkanediol to form the corresponding hydroxyalkyl tropane ester. This method may be used to produce hydroxyalkyl derivatives of tropanes such as benzoylecgonine, ecgonine and ecgonidine.

Abstract: An apparatus may be employed for determining the relaxation rate of a muscle which has been caused to contract in response to an electrical stimulus. The relaxation rate may be used in evaluating a person's nutritional status. The apparatus has support for supporting the forearm and wrist of a person in a palm-up position with the wrist extended. An electrical stimulus is applied to the person's ulnar nerve, and the force exerted upon a load cell by the person's thumb is measured. A computer is employed for receiving, storing, plotting and analyzing the force data collected by a transducer.