Nontoxic Enantiomeric Reference Materials for Saxitoxins.

Saxitoxin (STX) is a potent neurotoxin that is biosynthesized by toxic dinoflagellates and accumulated in shellfish via the food chain. STX and its various analogues are now monitored in shellfish by the hygiene authorities in many countries with instrumental analytical methods, which require calibration with standards. Unfortunately, STX is registered as a chemical warfare agent in Schedule 1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and this has made it difficult to import calibration standards into some countries. We aimed to avoid violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and facilitate analyses by preparing calibration standards based on unnatural nontoxic antipodal STXs (