Observation of apigenin anionic clusters in the gas phase

The ubiquity and favorable medicinal properties of flavonoids make essential the determination of flavonoid levels in various matrices. While developing a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of the flavonoid, apigenin, anionic oligomers and nitrate- and chloride-bound clusters of this compound were observed. Tandem mass spectrometry of these oligomers and cluster ions showed the cleavage of apigenin molecules from the precursor. The observation of these cluster ions shows the possibility of post-column derivatization techniques to enhance specificity in analysis. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.