High-performance Liquid Chromatography-atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry Research Articles

Response of Bacteriohopanepolyols to Hypoxic Conditions in the Surface Sediments of the Yangtze Estuary and Its Adjacent Areas

Bacteriohopanepolyols (BHPs), as a novel bacterial biomarker, show clear potential for tracking organic matter sources and environmental change. To evaluate BHPs as indicators of seasonal hypoxia in the Yangtze Estuary and its adjacent areas, the composition, distribution, and source of BHPs in surface sediments were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS). A total of 12 BHPs were detected with a normalized TOC concentration of 3.79-269 μg·g-1. The BHPs present in the surface sediments were dominated by bacteriohopanetetrol (BHT), 2-methyl-BHT, amino-BHPs, and adenosylhopane and its homologues, accounting for 40%, 22%, 12%, and 4% of the total BHPs, respectively. Each of these components and their corresponding indices show clear spatial trends. Specifically, BHT showed an "offshore increase" trend, which was mainly attributed to marine autochthonous inputs; and soil marker BHPs including adenosylhopane, which were dominated by terrestrial sources, showed an "offshore decrease" trend. The Rsoil index indicated a similar spatial pattern to the soil marker BHPs, with the relative contribution of terrestrial organic matter decreasing from 61.5% in coastal waters to 1.66% in the open ocean. This suggests that the organic matter in the coastal waters was mainly derived from terrestrial sources while marine sources were dominant in the open ocean. BHT-Ⅱ, the BHT stereoisomer, was derived from anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria. High BHT-Ⅱ ratios were consistent with seasonal hypoxic zones in the Yangtze Estuary and, furthermore, these ratios were significantly negatively correlated with dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in the bottom waters. These observations indicate that hypoxic environments are beneficial to BHT-Ⅱ production, implying that BHT-Ⅱ can be used as an indicator of marine hypoxia.

Identification of the Composition of Isomeric Canthaxanthin Sample by NMR, HPLC, and Mass Spectrometry

Canthaxanthin crystal and three isomeric samples generated by different processes (solvent dissolving, iodine catalysis, and melting) were selected to study the chemical changes during different isomerization processing. No sharp difference could be found when the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of canthaxanthin crystal and canthaxanthin obtained by solvent dissolving and iodine catalysis were compared, suggesting that only isomerization occurred in those isomeric samples. However, the content of unsaturated hydrogen decreased during the melting of canthaxanthin, and the measurements of gel permeation chromatography and UV/Vis spectroscopy showed that the canthaxanthin melt contained few compositions of polymer and degradation products. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis system consisting of a C30 column and an elution system of methanol/methyl tert-butyl ether/water/dichloromethane (60:25:12:3, v/v/v/v) was employed to identify the compositions detected in HPLC. Using the combination of HPLC–diode array detector and HPLC–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization–mass spectrometry, ten isomers and four epoxides of canthaxanthin were successfully isolated. The isomer compositions were identified as 9,13′-di-cis-, 13,15-di-cis-, 9,15-di-cis-, 15-cis-, 13-cis-, 9,13-di-cis-, all-trans-, 11-cis-, 7-cis-, and 9-cis-canthaxanthin. The chromatographic purity and content of canthaxanthin sample also can be determined based on the C30-HPLC method.

Analysis of Carotenoids in 25 Indigenous Korean Coral Extracts

In this study, methanol extracts from 25 indigenous Korean corals were prepared and their carotenoid constituents were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS). Among them, extracts from nine species showed detectable peaks in the HPLC chromatogram at 450 nm and the ultraviolet/visible spectra exhibiting carotenoid-specific characteristics were chosen. The mass data of carotenoid peaks revealed that only peridinin could be identified based on literature comparison and suggested the potential presence of novel carotenoid structures. This is the first reported investigation of indigenous Korean coral carotenoids and further work is needed to explore the carotenoids and their potential roles in the ecosystem of indigenous Korean corals.

Simultaneous quantification of cefpodoxime proxetil and clavulanic acid in human plasma by LC–MS using solid phase extraction with application to pharmacokinetic studies

A simple, rapid and selective high performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous estimation of cefpodoxime proxetil (CDPX) and clavulanic acid (CA) in human plasma. Extraction of samples was done by solid phase extraction technique (SPE) and chloramphenicol used as internal standard. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a reverse phase Princeton SPHER C18 (150mm×4mm i.d., 5μm) column using mixture of methanol: acetonitrile: 2mM ammonium acetate (25:25:50, v/v, pH 3.5) at 0.8mL/min flow rate. Detection was performed on a single quadrupole MS by selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode via APCI source. The calibration curve was linear within the concentration range, 0.04-4.4μg/mL and 0.1-10.0μg/mL for CDPX and CA respectively. Pharmacokinetic parameters of tablet (CDPX 200mg, CA 125mg) were evaluated. Cmax, Tmax, T1/2, elimination rate constant (Kel), AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞ of tablet were 2.13±0.06μg/mL, 2h, 3.05±0.15h, 0.24±0.37h(-1), 6.81±0.14μg h/mL and 7.72±0.23μg h/mL respectively for cefpodoxime (CP), 5.34±0.28μg/mL, 2h, 2.73±0.25h, 0.26±0.31h(-1), 15.37±0.16μg h/mL and 16.59±0.53μg h/mL respectively for CA.

Actual ratios of triacylglycerol positional isomers consisting of saturated and highly unsaturated fatty acids in fishes and marine mammals

The distribution of fatty acid species at the (sn-1, 3) position or the (sn-2) position of triacylglycerol (TAG) in natural fats and oils has already been analysed by many researchers and several interesting results have been reported. However, most of these reports only focused on the distribution of fatty acids at the or positions in TAG, and did not take account of the combination of fatty acids in the TAG, i.e., the TAG positional isomers. In this study, the actual ratios of TAG positional isomer pairs, consisting of palmitic acid and highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) such as DHA or EPA, in fish and marine mammals were investigated using a high-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS) system equipped with tandem jointed non-endcapped polymeric ODS columns. The results show that for combinations of DHA or EPA with two palmitic acids in the TAG of marine mammals, binding was almost all at the α position. In contrast, binding of DHA or EPA was mainly at the β position in fish. The preferred DHA and EPA positions in TAG were the same in the same marine mammal or fish. The binding position tendency of HUFA in TAG positional isomers consisting of two HUFAs and one palmitic acid was the same as that for combinations of one HUFA and two palmitic acids. These results were interpreted as showing that the preferred fatty acid species of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase and 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase in marine mammals are different to those in fish and other animals, or that diacylglycerol acyltransferase in marine mammals favours 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol formed from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphatidate if HUFA is the reaction substrate.

Analytical Considerations for the Use of the Paleothermometer Tetraether Index86 and the Branched vs Isoprenoid Tetraether Index Regarding the Choice of Cleanup and Instrumental Conditions

The tetraether index of tetraethers consisting of 86 carbons (TEX(86)) is a novel proxy applied to obtain paleotemperature reconstructions from marine and lacustrine settings. It is usually applied alongside the branched vs isoprenoid tetraether (BIT) index, which provides paleoenvironmental information as well as information on the reliability of TEX(86). Both indices are calculated via the analysis of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers or GDGTs by means of high-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS). Here we test the performance of alternative methods for sample cleanup and instrumental analysis. In particular, we evaluate using alkaline hydrolysis as an alternative cleanup step to alumina column fractionation and show that the resulting TEX(86) and BIT are statistically equivalent. We also test two different adsorbents in the activated or deactivated state for preparative column fractionation and show that any of them can be used to measure TEX(86) but that a certain discrimination between GDGTs used in the BIT index can occur. Regarding the mass spectrometer design, an ion-trap is shown to be as precise as a quadrupole mass spectrometer for GDGT analysis. Some differences are observed for TEX(86) and especially for BIT values obtained from both MS designs. We provide evidence that the APCI conditions are at least partly responsible for these differences. We recommend caution when comparing BIT values among laboratories as this index seems to be especially sensitive to analytical conditions.

Analytical Methodology for TEX86 Paleothermometry by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization-Mass Spectrometry

The TEX86 is a recently proposed paleothermometer through which ancient seawater temperatures of up to 120 My ago can be reconstructed. It is based on the relative distribution of glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS). The aim of this study was to examine and improve several analytical aspects in the determination of this important proxy in environmental matrices. Comparison of TEX86 analysis using single ion mode (SIM) and mass scanning (m/z 950 to 1450) detection, respectively, revealed that SIM is up to 2 orders of magnitude more sensitive and that the TEX86 can be determined with a reproducibility of +/-0.004 or +/-0.3 degrees C using this method. Comparison of TEX86 values obtained with two different HPLC/APCI-MS set-ups revealed no significant differences. In addition, analysis of TEX86 of extracts obtained by Soxhlet, ultrasonic, and accelerated high-pressure extraction techniques also showed no significant differences between the methods. Our results suggest that TEX86 analysis by HPLC/APCI-MS is robust and can be determined with analytical errors comparable to those of other temperature proxies.

Characterization of major and minor alk(en)ylresorcinols from mango (Mangifera indica L.) peels by high‐performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

5-Alkyl- and 5-alkenylresorcinols, as well as their hydroxylated derivatives, were extracted from mango (Mangifera indica L.) peels, purified on polyamide and characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/APcI-MS) for the first time. Among the 15 compounds analyzed, 3 major and 12 minor C(15)-, C(17)-, and C(19)-substituted resorcinols and related analogues, showing varying degrees of unsaturation, were characterized by their specific fragmentation patterns in collision-induced dissociation experiments. This marks the first report on the occurrence of mono-, di-, and triunsaturated C(15)-homologues, saturated and triunsaturated C(17)-homologues, and mono- and diunsaturated C(19)-homologues in mango peels. Additionally, several hydroxylated C(15)- and C(17)-homologues, also not yet described in mango, and a C(14)-monoene, unique because of its even-numbered side chain, were tentatively identified on the basis of their fragmentation patterns. The results obtained in the present study indicate that HPLC-DAD-APcI-MS(n), combined with the newly developed solid-phase extraction, is a powerful tool for the analysis of alk(en)ylresorcinols and could therefore be used for their determination in various matrices.

Development of a method for fast analysis of phenolic molecular markers in biomass burning particles using high performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry

A high performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS) method for the fast analysis of 21 biomass burning tracers in particles samples has been developed. Separation was done with a Zorbax SB-C18 Rapid Resolution cartridge column (4.6mm×30mm×3.5μm), using a CH3OH/H2O/CH3COOH gradient at a flow rate of 0.5mL/min. The observed relative standard deviations (RSD) for the retention times and peak areas were <0.6 and <15%, respectively. With the short analytical column and the sensitive detector the total analysis time for the standard mixture was reduced to 15min. Instrumental detection limits were <1μM (S/N=3) for all standard compounds except homovanillic acid (4.3μM). The suitability of the developed method for the analysis of biomass burning particles is demonstrated by the measurements of five different real biomass burning samples. The results of these measurements showed clear differences between the different kinds of biomass and they are in good agreement with results from earlier studies in the literature.

Sensitive HPLC–APCI–MS method for the determination of cyclovirobuxine D in human plasma

A sensitive high performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS) assay for determination of cyclovirobuxine D (CVB-D) in human plasma using mirtazapine as internal standard (I.S.) was established. After adjustment to a basic pH with sodium hydroxide, plasma was extracted by ethyl acetate and separated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a reversed-phase C(18) column with a mobile phase of 30 mM ammonium acetate buffer solution containing 1% formic acid-methanol (48:52, v/v). CVB-D was determined with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry (APCI-MS). HPLC-APCI-MS was performed in the selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode using target ions at [M+H](+)m/z 403.4 for CVB-D and [M+H](+)m/z 266.2 for I.S. Calibration curves were linear over the range 10.11-4044 pg/ml. The lower limit of quantification was 10.11 pg/ml. The intra- and inter-run variability values were less than 9.5 and 12.4%, respectively. The mean plasma extraction recovery of CVB-D was in the range of 85.3-92.8%. The method was successfully applied to determine the plasma concentrations of CVB-D in Chinese volunteers.

Determination of triacylglycerols in donkey milk by using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

The separation and determination of triacylglycerols (TAGs), which are the main components of naturally occurring fats and oils, in milk fat is a challenging task due to the very complex nature of this matrix. In the present study the TAG fraction of donkey milk lipids has been characterized by using high performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS). HPLC in reversed phase mode has been used for TAG separation and silver ion (Ag+) HPLC has been used as a second dimension to clarify and confirm the identification. The RP-HPLC eluate was fractionated and the fractions of interest were injected onto the Ag+-HPLC column. In both cases peak assignment was carried out by combining retention data with APCI-MS spectra information. In total, 55 TAGs in donkey milk fat were identified (without considering the positional isomers) and quantified on the basis of percentage peak areas in the RP-HPLC chromatogram (without the use of correction factors). Amongst the identified triacylglycerols, POLn, POO, PPO, CaPO, POL, and PPoO proved to be the main components of the TAG fraction of donkey milk.

Mass spectrometric analysis of ceramide perturbations in brain and fibroblasts of mice and human patients with peroxisomal disorders.

In this study, the levels and composition of ceramides in brains of newborn mice lacking peroxisomes (Pex5-/-, Zellweger mice) were analyzed using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS). Total ceramide compositions were found to be comparable to that of control animals. However, a minor ceramide species, containing hexacosanoic/hexacosenoic acid as the amide fatty acid, was 9-fold increased. Also, in the sphingomyelin-derived ceramides this species was elevated. Subsequent analysis of extracts from fibroblasts of Pex5-/- mice and mice with a defective peroxisomal beta-oxidation (lacking D-specific multifunctional protein 2 (MFP2)), revealed, again, a similar rise in this particular ceramide. Further, this ceramide was elevated in human X-ALD fibroblasts as well. Whether C26:1/0-ceramide is linked to some of the pathology seen in Zellweger syndrome remains to be investigated. However, an increase in this sphingolipid can be considered as a diagnostic criterion for diseases caused by defects in peroxisome biogenesis or peroxisomal beta-oxidation.

Simultaneous determination of eight underivatized amphetamines in hair by high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS).

The aim of this study was to develop, optimize, and validate an analytical procedure to determine a group of eight amphetamines, amphetamine (AMP), ephedrine (EP), methcathinone (MTC), paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA), methamphetamine (MA), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA), in hair. The target substances were extracted with 1-chlorobutane after alkaline (1M NaOH) digestion and analyzed underivatized with high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS). APCI-MS parameters such as fragmentor and capillary voltage, corona current, drying gas temperature and flow rate, vaporizer temperature, and nebulizer gas pressure were optimized with the application of flow injection analysis. Quantitation was performed using selected ion monitoring of protonated molecular ions of the studied drugs, and their deuterated analogues were used as internal standards. The limits of detection were 0.05 ng/mg for MA, MDA, MDMA, and MDEA; 0.10 ng/mg for EP and AMP; and 0.20 ng/mg for MTC and PMA. A linear response was observed for all drugs from 0 to 20 ng/mg. The method was applied to the determination of amphetamines in 93 authentic hair samples obtained from detoxification and methadone treatment patients, revealing the following concentrations: 0.17-17.28 ng/mg (EP), 0.52-2.08 ng/mg (MTC), 0.15-62.52 ng/mg (AMP), 0.10-16.52 ng/mg (MA), 0.10-0.88 ng/mg (MDMA), and 0.10-0.16 ng/mg (MDEA). MDA and PMA were never detected.

Effects of traditional processing methods of linseed oil on the composition of its triacylglycerols.

Different oil processing methods were performed, which included washing with water and treatment with lead-based driers, with and without heating to different temperatures, giving a set of 7 oils to be investigated. The effects of the traditional processing methods of linseed oil on its triacylglycerol (TAG) composition were studied, using the following analytical methods: high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS), direct temperature resolved mass spectrometry (DTMS), matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and electrospray ionisation Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS). A decrease of the initial cis-double bonds and the formation of trans-double bonds upon heating of the oils was observed. Heating a lead and oil mixture to 150 degrees C, or heating the oil alone to 300 degrees C led to the highest degree of oxidation. A difference was observed for the oxidation patterns for oils with and without the addition of lead. Furthermore, levels of oxygen incorporation were higher when lead was added to the oil. High temperature treatment of the oils resulted in an increased average molecular weight. The changes in the initial conformation of the double bond systems observed with FTIR were supported by HPLC-APCI-MS measurements that showed the formation of a number of new isomeric TAGs in the heated oil compared to freshly pressed, untreated oil. Oligomerisation up to hexamers was observed with HPSEC, and MALDI-TOF-MS. The formation of oligomers up to trimers only, however, was observed with ESI-FTICR-MS. Incorporation of oxygen was mainly observed with MALDI-TOF-MS and ESI-FTICR-MS whereas with DTMS and FTIR hardly any evidence was found for this.

Quantification of the ratio of positional isomer dilinoleoyl-oleoyl glycerols in vegetable oils.

The distribution of fatty acids in a triacylglycerol is of great importance from nutritional, biochemical, quality and technological points of view. The ratio of triacylglycerol positional isomers containing two linoleic acid (18:2) and one oleic acid (18:1) moieties--namely, 1(3),2-dilinoleoyl-3(1)-oleoyl glycerol (LLO) and 1,3-dilinoleoyl-2-oleoyl glycerol (LOL)--were quantified in grape seed, olive, pumpkin seed, soybean, sunflower and wheat germ oils by high-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Relative LOL contents (LOL/(LLO+LOL)) of the oils were calculated from the mass abundances of the [LL]+ and [LO]+ diacylglycerol fragment ions ([M+H-RCOOH]+) using a calibration curve. The calibration curve of the relative diacylglycerol mass abundances was measured in SIM mode. The relative LOL contents were found to be relatively consistent for each oil variety. The relative LOL content in grape seed, sunflower, pumpkin seed, soybean and wheat germ oils accounted for 44.2 +/- 2.6, 26.8 +/- 3.2, 16.7 +/- 4.6, 15.9 +/- 2.9 and 13.9 +/- 4.3%, respectively. Only olive oils contained practically 100% of the LLO isomer. These results indicate that the unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic and oleic acids have 'non-random' distribution patterns in various oils.

Differentiation of vegetable oils by mass spectrometry combined with statistical analysis

The main triacylglycerol (TAG) composition of different plant oils (almond, avocado, corn germ, grape seed, linseed, mustard seed, olive, peanut, pumpkin seed, sesame seed, soybean, sunflower, walnut and wheat germ) were analyzed using two different mass spectrometric techniques: HPLC/APCI-MS (high-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry) and MALDI-TOFMS (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry).Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) as a multivariate mathematical statistical method was successfully used to distinguish different plant oils based on their relative TAG composition. With LDA analysis of either APCI-MS or MALDI-MS data, the classification among the almond, avocado, grape seed, linseed, mustard seed, olive, sesame seed and soybean oil samples was 100% correct. In both cases only 6 different oil samples from a total of 73 were not classified correctly.

Characterization of plant oils on a monolithic silica column by high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical lonization-mass spectrometry

Five plant oils (peanut, pumpkin seed, sesame seed, soybean, and wheat germ) have been analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS). Gradient elution was performed with acetone-acetonitrile mobile phases on a short monolithic silica column (SilicaROD, RP-18e, 50 mm×4.6 mm). Identification of plant oil triacylglycerols (TAG) was based on the pseudomolecular ion [M+H]+ and the diacylglycerol [M−RCO2]+ fragments. Positional isomers of triacylglycerols were identified from the relative intensities of the [M-RCO2]+ fragments. Principal-component analysis, used to find similarities and differences between the different oils, indicated that the different plant oils could be clearly differentiated according to their triacylglycerol composition.

Rapid identification of Mg-chelated chlorins by on-line high performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

On-line high performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS) has been applied to the identification of a number of tetrapyrrolic pigments as well as several magnesium-free analogs. Mass spectra, acquired both in positive (+) and negative (-) ionization mode, allow not only the determination of the structural features of the pigments, but also a very easy differentiation of the Mg-chelated pigments from the free bases. In the positive ionization mode, all pigments show mainly a [M + H]+ ion and a [M + H - C20H38]+ fragment ion corresponding to the loss of the phytyl chain via a hydrogen rearrangement. In the negative ionization mode, on the other hand, although all pigments give an abundant molecular anion [M]-*, only the Mg-chelated chlorin spectra show a prominent fragment [M - C20H39]- produced by a formal loss of the phytyl radical.

Stereochemistry of norditerpenoid alkaloids by liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

High-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS) is a very promising approach to structural investigations of positional isomers and stereoisomers. This method was applied successfully to stereoisomeric norditerpenoid alkaloids differing in configuration at C-6. APCI-MS allowed the easy and precise control of energy deposition by varying the drift voltage. Comparison of the breakdown curves, observed by changing the potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode of the APCI ion source, revealed the stereochemical dependence of different fragmentations. Comparison of the APCI spectra showed that the abundance of fragment ions was significantly higher for C-6beta alkaloid than for C-6alpha alkaloid. The axial positions of the corresponding substituents (6-methoxyl and 8-hydroxyl) strongly suggested a 1,3-diaxial interaction effect of the fragmentation. The characteristic fragment ions were formed by the loss of water or acetic acid at position 8, irrespective of the stereochemistry at position 6. The possibility of distinct fragmentation mechanisms depending on the stereochemistry of the precursor ion could be discerned by recording the spectra in a deuterated solvent system of 0.05 M ammonium acetate in D2O-acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran. Loss of D2O from the precursor ion gave the fragment ion. This result indicated that the proton of protonation was included in the leaving water molecule. The peak intensity ratio R = [M+H]+/[M+H-H2O]+ manifested the stereochemical differentiation of alkaloids at position 6.

Application of liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry to the differentiation of stereoisomeric C19-norditerpenoid alkaloids.

High-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS) was successfully applied to stereoisomeric C19-norditerpenoid alkaloids at position 1. APCI-MS allowed the easy and precise control of the energy deposition by varying the drift voltage. Comparison of the breakdown curves, observed by changing the potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode of the APCI ion source, revealed stereochemical dependence of different fragmentations. The APCI spectra of alkaloids were predominantly the [M+H]+ ion and major fragment ion, corresponding to the [M+H-H2O]+ ion or the [M+H-CH3COOH]+ ion, and comparison of the spectra showed that the abundance of fragment ions was significantly higher for C-1 beta-form alkaloids than for C-1 alpha-form alkaloids. The characteristic fragment ions were formed by the loss of a water, acetic acid or methanol molecule at position 8. The fragmentation mechanisms depending on the stereochemistry of the precursor ion could be discerned by recording the spectra in a deuterated solvent system of 0.05 M ammonium acetate in D2O-acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran. Loss of D2O from the precursor ion gave the fragment ion. This result indicated that the proton of protonation was included in the leaving water molecule. The peak intensity ratio R=[M+H]+/[M+H-H2O]+ manifested the stereochemical differentiation of alkaloids at position 1.