The presence of a new compound in human urine had been suggested from the gas chromatographic assay for urinary catecholamines. The compound was purified and identified as (±)-δ-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone mainly by the ultraviolet, infrared, mass and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, and chemical functional group tests. The compound was excreted in urine of most men and women, and predominantly in conjugated form.
