溶剂浸提条件下鱼腥草中癸酰乙醛的高效提取

本文采用溶剂浸泡提取鱼腥草挥发油,考察了浸泡溶剂、浸泡温度和浸泡时间等因素的影响,探究了鱼腥草中最关键的抗菌成分之一鱼腥草素(癸酰乙醛)的真实含量。研究发现,室温下采用乙酸乙酯浸泡鱼腥草456h,鱼腥草挥发油的提取率高达0.294%,挥发油中癸酰乙醛的含量高达40.14%,仅检测到少量甲基正壬酮。结果表明,温和的提取条件有效抑制了癸酰乙醛的氧化分解,获得远高于水蒸汽蒸馏条件下的癸酰乙醛含量(0.03%)。该研究为从鱼腥草中高效提取癸酰乙醛提供了一种切实可行的手段。     

微波辅助条件下鱼腥草中癸酰乙醛的高效提取

以乙酸乙酯为溶剂,在微波辅助条件下提取鱼腥草挥发油,考察了微波温度、功率及时间对鱼腥草挥发油提取率及鱼腥草素(癸酰乙醛)含量的影响,探讨了鱼腥草挥发油储存过程中癸酰乙醛的化学转化。研究发现,在温度80℃、功率1 000 W及时间12min的微波辅助条件下,鱼腥草挥发油的提取率高达0.66%,挥发油中癸酰乙醛的含量高达60.78%。在微波辅助条件下,较低的提取温度及快速提取有效避免了癸酰乙醛的氧化分解是其高效提取的根本原因,鱼腥草挥发油中存在癸酰乙醛与其二聚物的动态平衡是癸酰乙醛长时间保持稳定的主要原因。     

有机质谱学在中药鱼腥草研究中的应用

研究了中药鱼腥草的挥发性物质和鱼腥草注射液的有效成分。用CC／MS方法鉴定了鱼腥草挥发性物质和鱼腥草注射液有效成分的化学组成，从二者中共鉴定出48个化合物。研究结果表明：二者中的化学组成基本相同。主要成分有：2-十一烷酮(甲基正壬酮)、癸酰乙醛(鱼腥草素)、苯甲醛、薄荷醇、冰片乙酸酯、2-十一烯醛、正十一烷醇、葵酸、δ-瑟林烯、肉豆蔻醚、斯巴醇、石竹烯氧化物、二苯胺及十六酸。占优势的化合物为甲基正壬酮，它在鱼腥草的挥发性物质中和鱼腥草注射液的有效成分中分别占9．8％和9．2％。作为鱼腥草中的特有物质癸酰乙醛(鱼腥草素)，在鱼腥草的挥发性物质中和鱼腥草注射液的有效成分中分别占5．1％和2．6％。本文还讨论了甲基正壬酮和癸酰乙醛结构的确定。     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定中成药中马兜铃酸A含量

中成药样品用丙酮作为溶剂进行超声波萃取,所得提取液在不超过50℃的水浴中加热减压蒸发至干。加入水-乙酸-乙腈(49+1+50)混合溶液2.0 mL溶解残渣,所得溶液供液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)分析用,上述混合溶液在以后分析中用作流动相。Kromasil C_(18)柱用作色谱柱固定相,在MS/MS分析中,选择大气压化学电离为离子源,以正离子扫描,选择离子检测模式和二级选择反应检测模式对马兜铃酸A进行定量和定性检测。以[M+NH_4]+(m/z 359)为母离子,选择其二级离子中信号较强的碎片离子[M—NO_2+H]+(m/z 298)作为定量及定性离子,并以碎片离子[M—CO_2+H]+(m/z 296)为辅助定性离子。测定马兜铃酸A的线性范围在0.2～10.5 mg·L~(-1)之间,方法的测定下限(10S/N)为0.07 mg·L~(-1)。在3种不同浓度水平的标准加入量的条件下进行回收试验,测得回收率在89%～95%之间,测定值的相对标准偏差(n=6)均小于5.5%。     

一种聚酰胺-胺型树枝状分子的电喷雾离子阱质谱分析

以己二胺为分子内核,室内合成了一类支化代数为1.0G的聚酰胺-胺型树枝状分子己二胺四丙酰胺二胺(1.0G支化物)。应用ESI-MS技术研究并表征了该支化物的分子结构与正、负离子扫描条件下的主要特征碎片离子及主要裂解途径。1.0G支化物在正、负离子模式下均可以得到较佳的质谱信息。在正离子模式下,容易与H+形成[M+H]+准分子离子,并裂解形成碎片m/z573.41,m/z 555.40,m/z 471.30,m/z 459.30,m/z 453.28,m/z 369.17,m/z357.16等。在负离子模式下丢失一个H+,形成[M-H]-准分子离子,并进一步碎裂成碎片m/z 571.43,m/z 511.29,m/z 457.20,m/z 397.05,m/z 342.99,m/z240.84等。分别阐述了1.0G支化物在正、负离子模式下的电喷雾质谱裂解规律并对主要特征碎片离子进行了结构归属,为进一步对聚酰胺-胺型树枝状分子的表征与结构指认提供了有价值的依据。     

电喷雾电离-串联质谱法测定纺织皮革产品中4,4-二氨基二苯醚

在不需要色谱分离的前提下,应用电喷雾电离-串联质谱法(ESI-MS/MS)对纺织品中偶氮染料还原产物4,4′-二氨基二苯醚进行测定。在MS/MS中,选择电喷雾离子源,以正离子扫描,选择离子监测模式和二级选择反应监测模式对4,4′-二氨基二苯醚进行定性和定量检测。以[M+H](m/z201)为母离子,选择其二级离子中碎片离子[M+H-NH3](m/z184)和[M+H-C6H7N](m/z108)为子离子。方法的检出限(19S/N)为70 ng.L-1。以1 ng.L-14,4′-二氨基二苯醚溶液进样2μL,平行测定9次,峰面积测定值的相对标准偏差为1.7%。     

四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱分析芬太尼类药物的裂解规律北大核心CSCD

采用四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱仪,在分辨率高达70000情况下,直接采集碎裂片段的高精度质荷比(m/z),并通过元素模拟得到各碎片离子的元素组成,进而探究芬太尼类药物的裂解规律。结果表明:芬太尼类药物分子结构中叔胺基团的存在,使其极易被质子化,形成分子离子峰[M+H]^(+);裂解过程首先发生在叔胺与哌啶环相连的C-N键上,即哌啶环上的γ-H重排到与叔胺基团相连的羰基氧上,哌啶环上的β-键断裂(麦氏重排),形成一个中性丢失分子,另一端形成带电荷的碎裂片段,在高碰撞能量下,碎裂片段进一步发生裂解。按照化学结构将37种芬太尼类药物及其裂解途径划分为3类:(1)结构中含有N-苯基丙酰胺基团(149 Da),均可形成以149 Da为中性丢失的特征碎片离子m/z[M+H-149 Da]^(+);(2)N-苯基丙酰胺基团被其他任意非氢原子取代,而与之相连的哌啶环-苯乙基结构保持不变,中性丢失后则可产生特征碎片离子m/z 188.1433(C_(13)H_(18)N^(+)),随后哌啶环与苯乙基进一步发生N-C键断裂,形成特征碎片离子m/z 105.0702(C_(8)H_(9)^(+))和m/z 84.0814(C_(5)H_(10)N^(+));(3)不含完整母核结构的芬太尼类药物,多由修饰后的N-苯基酰胺与哌啶环构成,不能通过上述特征碎片离子进行定性,但均能通过高碰撞能量下吡啶环及其裂解产物m/z 84.0814(C_(5)H_(10)N^(+))和m/z 54.0724(C_(3)H_(4)N^(+))进行快速鉴定。     

利用甘油醛进行白三烯B4中1-C～6-C及11-C～20-C片断的手性合成

本文报道由D-甘露醇和L-抗坏血酸为手性源, 通过D(+)-和L(-)-甘油醛分别合成白三烯B4中1-C～6-C片断5-(S)-苯甲酰氧基-6-氧代-己酸乙酯及11-C～20-C片断-2-(R)-叔丁基-二苯基硅氧基-癸-4-(z)-烯醛的新合成方法。     

苏丹红染料在四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱中的离子化与裂解规律研究

通过四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱直接采集碎裂片段的高准确度质量数(分辨率70 000,m/z 200),并通过元素模拟得到碎片离子的元素组成,探究了苏丹红Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ的裂解规律。结果表明:因分子结构中羟基基团的存在,使得苏丹红类物质极易被质子化,更易形成[M+H]~+;裂解集中在偶氮基团附近:(1)偶氮键邻位酚羟基(供H基团)的存在导致化合物结构重排,由烯醇式变成腙酮式,H迁移至N原子上,高键能的偶氮键(—N=N—)重排为氮氮单键(—NH—N=,使N—N键易于断裂;(2)偶氮键邻位不含供H体,不会发生迁移,高键能的偶氮键(—N=N—)保持不变,碎片离子主要通过两侧的C—N键断裂形成;(3)在高碰撞能下,存在化学键同时断裂,以及萘环开环裂解,含有多个偶氮基团的碎片离子也更为丰富。通过直接进样的方式确定4种苏丹红染料的最佳电离方式和质谱裂解规律,为偶氮类化合物的快速鉴定提供了依据。     

芦丁的电喷雾离子阱质谱分析

研究了芦丁在电喷雾离子阱质谱(ESI-MS)下的主要特征碎片离子及其裂解规律。应用电喷雾离子阱质谱技术研究芦丁的结构和正、负离子扫描条件下芦丁的主要特征碎片离子及其裂解规律。芦丁在正、负离子模式下均可得到较好的质谱信息,在正离子模式下,容易与Na+形成[M+Na]+的准分子离子,并裂解形成碎片m/z 605,487,331,325,313,185等,在负离子模式下,形成[M-H]-的准分子离子,并进一步碎裂形成碎片m/z 301,283,257,255,229,227,211等。分别阐明了芦丁在正、负离子模式下的电喷雾质谱碎裂规律,并对主要特征碎片离子进行归属,为进一步芦丁的结构优化和修饰提供了有价值的依据。     

Structural characterization of glycoporphyrins by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Porphyrin derivatives having a galactose or a bis(isopropylidene)galactose structural unit, linked by ester or ether bonds, were characterized by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ES-MS/MS). The electrospray mass spectra of these glycoporphyrins show the corresponding [M + H](+) ions. For the glycoporphyrins with pyridyl substituents and those having a tetrafluorophenyl spacer, the doubly charged ions [M + 2H](2+) were also observed in ES-MS with high relative abundance. The fragmentation of both [M + H](+) and [M + 2H](2+) ions exhibited common fragmentation pathways for porphyrins with the same sugar residue, independently of the porphyrin structural unit and type of linkage. ES-MS/MS of the [M + H](+) ions of the galactose-substituted porphyrins gave the fragment ions [M + H - C(2)H(4)O(2)](+), [M + H - C(3)H(6)O(3)](+), [M + H - C(4)H(8)O(4)](+) and [M + H - galactose residue](+). The fragmentation of the [M + 2H](2+) ions of the porphyrins with galactose shows the common doubly charged fragment ions [porphyrin + H](2+), [M + 2H - C(2)H(4)O(2)](2+), [M + 2H - C(4)H(8)O(4)](2+), [M + 2H - galactose residue](2+) and the singly charged fragment ions [M + H - C(3)H(6)O(3)](+) and [M + H - galactose residue](+). The fragmentation of the [M + H](+) ions of glycoporphyrins with a protected galactosyl residue leads mainly to the ions [M + H - CO(CH(3))(2)](+), [M + H - 2CO(CH(3))(2)](+), [M + H - 2CO(CH(3))(2) - CO](+), [M + H - C(10)H(16)O(4)](+) and [M + H - protected galactose](+). The doubly charged ions [M + 2H](2+) fragment to give the doubly charged ions [porphyrin + H](2+) and the singly charged ions [M + H - protected galactose residue](+) and [M + H - CO(CH(3))(2)](+). For the porphyrins where the sugar structural unit is linked by an ester bond, [M + 2H](2+), ES-MS/MS showed a major and typical fragmentation corresponding to combined loss of a sugar structural unit and further loss of water, leading to the ion [M + 2H - sugar residue - H(2)O](2+), independently of the structure of the sugar structural unit. These results show that ES-MS/MS can be a powerful tool for the characterization of the sugar structural unit of glycoporphyrins, without the need for chemical hydrolysis.     

Characterization of phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate, and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: A mechanistic study

Structural characterization of phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI-4P), and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI-4,5-P2) by collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization is described. In negative ion mode, the major fragmentation pathways under low energy CAD for PI arise from neutral loss of free fatty acid substituents ([M - H - RxCO2H]-) and neutral loss of the corresponding ketenes ([M - H - R'xCH=C=O]-), followed by consecutive loss of the inositol head group. The intensities of the ions arising from neutral loss of the sn-2 substituent as a free fatty acid ([M - H - R2CO2H]-) or as a ketene ([M - H - R'2CH=C=O] ) are greater than those of ions reflecting corresponding losses of the sn-1 substutient. This is consistent with our recent finding that ions reflecting those losses arise from charge-driven processes that occur preferentially at the sn-2 position. These features permit assignment of the position of the fatty acid substituents on the glycerol backbone. Nucleophilic attack of the anionic phosphate onto the C-1 or the C-2 of the glycerol to which the fatty acids attached expels sn-1 (R1CO2-) or sn-2 (R2CO2-) carboxylate anion, respectively. This pathway is sterically more favorable at sn-2 than at sn-1. However, further dissociations of [M - H - RxCO2H - inositol] , [M - H - RxCO2H]-, and [M - H - RxCH=C=O]- precursor ions also yield RxCO2- ions, whose abundance are affected by the collision energy applied. Therefore, relative intensities of the RxCO2- ions in the spectrum do not reflect their positions on the glycerol backbone and determination of their regiospecificities based on their ion intensities is not reliable. The spectra also contain specific ions at m/z 315, 279, 259, 241, and 223, reflecting the inositol head group. The last three ions are also observed in the tandem spectra of the [M - H]- ions of phosphatidylinositol monophosphate (PI-P) and phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PI-P2), in addition to the ions at m/z 321 and 303, reflecting the doubly phosphorylated inositol ions. The PI-P2 also contains unique ions at m/z 401 and 383 that reflect the triply phosphorylated inositol ions. The [M - H]- ions of PI-P and PI-P2 undergo fragmentation pathways similar to that of PI upon CAD. However, the doubly charged ([M - 2H]2-) molecular ions undergo fragmentation pathways that are typical of the [M - H]- ions of glycerophosphoethanolamine, which are basic. These results suggest that the further deprotonated gaseous [M - 2H]2 ions of PI-P and PI-P2 are basic precursors.     

Derivatization of protonated peptides via gas phase ion—molecule reactions with acetone

The protonated [M + H]+ ions of glycine, simple glycine containing peptides, and other simple di- and tripeptides react with acetone in the gas phase to yield [M + H + (CH3)2CO]+ adduct ion, some of which fragment via water loss to give [M + H + (CH3)2CO - H2O]+ Schiff's base adducts. Formation of the [M + H + (CH3)2CO]+ adduct ions is dependent on the difference in proton affinities between the peptide M and acetone, while formation of the [M + H + (CH3)2CO - H2O]+ Schiff's base adducts is dependent on the ability of the peptide to act as an intramolecular proton "shuttle." The structure and mechanisms for the formation of these Schiff's base adducts have been examined via the use of collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID MS/MS), isotopic labeling [using (CD3)2CO] and by comparison with the reactions of Schiff's base adducts formed in solution. CID MS/MS of these adducts yield primarily N-terminally directed a- and b-type "sequence" ions. Potential structures of the b1 ion, not usually observed in the product ion spectra of protonated peptide ions, were examined using ab initio calculations. A cyclic 5 membered pyrrolinone, formed by a neighboring group participation reaction from an enamine precursor, was predicted to be the primary product.     

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of ginsenosides

Ginsenosides R(b1), R(b2), R(c), R(d), R(e), R(f), R(g1), R(g2) and F(11) were studied systematically by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in positive- and negative-ion modes with a mobile-phase additive, ammonium acetate. In general, ion sensitivities for the ginsenosides were greater in the negative-ion mode, but more structural information on the ginsenosides was obtained in the positive-ion mode. [M + H](+), [M + NH(4)](+), [M + Na](+) and [M + K](+) ions were observed for all of the ginsenosides studied, with the exception of R(f) and F(11), for which [M + NH(4)](+) ions were not observed. The signal intensities of [M + H](+), [M + NH(4)](+), [M + Na](+) and [M + K](+) ions varied with the cone voltage. The highest signal intensities for [M + H](+) and [M + NH(4)](+) ions were obtained at low cone voltage (15-30 V), whereas those for [M + Na](+) and [M + K](+) ions were obtained at relatively high cone voltage (70-90 V). Collision-induced dissociation yielded characteristic positively charged fragment ions at m/z 407, 425 and 443 for (20S)-protopanaxadiol, m/z 405, 423 and 441 for (20S)-protopanaxatriol and m/z 421, 439, 457 and 475 for (24R)-pseudoginsenoside F(11). Ginsenoside types were identified by these characteristic ions and the charged saccharide groups. Glycosidic bond cleavage and elimination of H(2)O were the two major fragmentation pathways observed in the product ion mass spectra of [M + H](+) and [M + NH(4)](+). In the product ion mass spectra of [M - H](-), the major fragmentation route observed was glycosidic bond cleavage. Adduct ions [M + 2AcO + Na](-), [M + AcO](-), [M - CH(2)O + AcO](-), [M + 2AcO](2-), [M - H + AcO](2-) and [M - 2H](2-) were observed at low cone voltage (15-30 V) only.     

二烷氧基膦酰乙酸酯的电子轰击正离子和化学电离负离子质谱研究

本文报道一系列二烷氧基膦酰乙酸酯的电子轰击(EI)正离子和甲烷化学电离负离子(NCI)质谱.在EI谱上出现特征的[M+H]^+离子,进一步发生氢重排,然后失去烯烃,再失水和脱CH2CO.而在NCI谱中则生成[M-H]^-离子(基峰),易失去烷基,再失烷氧基和CH2CO,或氢重排后脱烯烃.正、负离子的断裂机理不同,但数据可以互相补充,以利于类似未知物的结构分析.     

Collisionally-induced dissociation of substituted pyrimidine antiviral agents: Mechanisms of ion formation using gas phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

ESI and CID mass spectra were obtained for four pyrimidine nucleoside antiviral agents and the corresponding compounds in which the labile hydrogens were replaced by deuterium using gas-phase exchange. The number of labile hydrogens, x, was determined from a comparison of ESI spectra obtained with N(2) and with ND(3) as the nebulizer gas. CID mass spectra were obtained for [M + H](+) and [M - H](-) ions and the exchanged analogs, [M(D(x)) + D](+) and [M(D(x)) - D](-), produced by ESI using a SCIEX API-III(plus) mass spectrometer. Protonated pyrimidine antiviral agents dissociate through rearrangement decompositions of base-protonated [M + H](+) ions by cleavage of the glycosidic bonds to give the protonated bases with a sugar moiety as the neutral fragment. Cleavage of the glycosidic bonds with charge retention on the sugar moiety eliminates the base moiety as a neutral molecule and produces characteristic sugar ions. CID of protonated pyrimidine bases, [B + H](+), occurs through three major pathways: (1) elimination of NH(3) (ND(3)), (2) loss of H(2)O (D(2)O), and (3) elimination of HNCO (DNCO). Protonated trifluoromethyl uracil, however, dissociates primarily through elimination of HF followed by the loss of HNCO. CID mass spectra of [M - H](-) ions of all four antiviral agents show NCO(-) as the principal decomposition product. A small amount of deprotonated base is also observed, but no sugar ions. Elimination of HNCO, HN(3), HF, CO, and formation of iodide ion are minor dissociation pathways from [M - H](-) ions.     

Electrospray ionization ion-trap time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry of two furofurans: sesamin and gmelinol

High-resolution electrospray ionization multistage tandem mass spectrometry (MS(1-7)) in positive ion mode was used to determine the accurate masses and the fragmentation pathways of two furofurans, sesamin and gmelinol. The protonated molecules [M+H]+ were absent in the conventional mass spectra of both compounds, but two characteristic ions, [M+H-H(2)O]+ and [M+H-H(2)]+, were always observed. Successive losses of CH(2)O and CO are the common characteristic fragmentations. Based on the exact masses acquired from 21 different tandem mass spectra, two or three fragmentation pathways for each compound are proposed. The consecutive losses of two H(2)O molecules and one H(2) molecule readily take place from the furan rings for both sesamin and gmelinol, resulting in the absence of the protonated molecules in the single-stage experiments. HCHO loss is observed at least three times in the tandem mass spectra, mainly from methylenedioxy groups (OCH(2)O) for sesamin but only from tetrahydrofuran rings for gmelinol. Moreover, CO loss is found at least three times in the tandem mass spectra of both sesamin and gmelinol from the 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl (ArOCH(2)O) moieties for sesamin and from both the dimethoxyphenyl and the tetrahydrofuran ring moieties for gmelinol. In addition, the disubstituted benzyl cation ArCH(2)+ at m/z 135 for sesamin and at m/z 151 for gmelinol was found in the MS(3) spectra of both sesamin and gmelinol, which is very helpful in the identification of the compositions of 3,4-disubstituted groups on the benzene rings of the furofurans.     

On-line determination of the deuterium abundance in breath water vapour by flowing afterglow mass spectrometry with applications to measurements of total body water

We have developed a new method for the on-line quantification of deuterium in water vapour. We call this method flowing afterglow mass spectrometry (FA-MS). A swarm of H3O+ precursor ions is created in flowing helium carrier gas by a microwave discharge. These precursor ions react with the H2O, HDO, H2(17)O and H2(18)O molecules in a water vapour sample that is introduced into the carrier gas/H3O+ ion swarm. The hydrated ions, H3O+.(H2O)3 at m/z 73, and their isotopic variant ions H8DO4(+) and H9(17)OO(3)(+) at m/z 74 and H9(18)OO(3)(+) at m/z 75, are thus formed. By adopting the known fractional abundance of 18O in water vapour, and accounting for the contribution of the isotopic ions H9(17)OO(3)(+) to the ion signal at m/z 74, a measurement of the 74/75 ion signal ratio under equilibrium conditions provides the fractional deuterium abundance in the water vapour sample. Using this technique, the deuterium abundance in the water vapour present in single exhalations of breath can be determined. Thus, from the temporal variations of breath deuterium following the ingestion of a known quantity of D(2)O, we show that total body water can be determined non-invasively and the kinetics of water flow around the body can be tracked.     

On-line analysis of diesel engine exhaust gases by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) has been used to analyse on-line and in real time the exhaust gas emissions from a Caterpillar 3304 diesel engine under different conditions of load (idle and 50% of rated load) and speed (910, 1500 and 2200 rpm) using three types of fuel: an ultra-low-sulphur diesel, a rapeseed methyl ester and gas oil. SIFT-MS analyses of the alkanes, alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons in the headspace of these fuels were also performed, but the headspace of the rapeseed methyl ester consists mainly of methanol and a compound with the molecular formula C4H8O. The exhaust gases were analysed for NO and NO2 using O2+* reagent ions and for HNO2 using H3O+ reagent ions. The following aldehydes and ketones in the exhaust gases were quantified by using the combination of H3O+ and NO+ reagent ions: formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propenal, propanal, acetone, butanal, pentanal, butanone and pentanone. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and pentenal, all known respiratory irritants associated with sensitisation to asthma of workers exposed to diesel exhaust, are variously present within the range 100-2000 ppb. Hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases accessible to SIFT-MS analyses were also quantified as total concentrations of the various isomers of C3H4, C3H6, C4H6, C5H8, C5H10, C6H8, C6H10, C7H14, C6H6, C7H8, C8H10 and C9H12.     

Mass spectrometric study of persistent acid metabolites of nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactants

A mass spectrometric study was carried out on two nonylphenoxycarboxylic acids, NP1EC and NP2EC (where 1 and 2 indicate the number of ethoxylate units attached to the nonylphenoxy moiety), that are persistent metabolites of widely used nonionic surfactant nonylphenol ethoxylates. In a gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) study of the methyl esters of NP1EC and NP2EC, two series of fragment ions were observed in electron ionization (EI) mass spectra; m/z (179 + 14n, n = 0-7) and m/z (105 + 14n, n = 0-4) for NP1ECMe and m/z (223 + 14n, n = 0-7) and m/z (107 + 14n, n = 0-5) for NP2ECMe. Similarity indices were used to compare quantitatively the mass spectra of isomers. The mass spectra of two isomers were found to be similar whereas those of the remaining isomers were readily distinguishable from each other. The abundant fragment ions of the two NPECMes were investigated further by GC/MS/MS; product ions resulting from cleavage in the alkyl moiety, cleavage in the ECMe moiety and cleavage in both moieties were detected. Possible structures of the nonyl groups in the two esters were inferred. GC/chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra of the NPECMes with isobutane as reagent gas showed characteristic hydride ion-abstracted fragment ions shifted by 1 Da from those in the corresponding EI mass spectra. The sensitivity of a selected ion monitoring quantitation method for the NPECMes is enhanced under CI conditions compared with that under EI conditions. With electrospray ionization MS/MS, [M - H](-) ions of NP1EC (m/z 277) and NP2EC (m/z 321) were observed and, upon collision-induced dissociation of [M - H](-) of each of the two acids, fragment ions of m/z 219 corresponding to deprotonated nonylphenol, were observed in each case. Based on this observation, a rapid, simple and reliable selected product ion quantitation method is proposed for NP1EC and NP2EC.