Advances in the analysis of volatile isoprenoid metabolites.

The advances in the analysis of volatile isoprenoid metabolites from sample preparation to separation and detection over the past 3 years are discussed in this overview. Novel headspace sampling techniques like the so-called high concentration capacity techniques are compared with the classical liquid extraction and distillation methods. The advantages of multidimensional separation techniques in the analysis of complex samples are outlined and commercially available dedicated heart-cutting and comprehensive GC systems are described.