Analysis of process impurities in the basic drug SB-253149 using capillary electrophoresis and on-line mass spectrometric detection

Capillary electrophoresis with on-line electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (CE/ESI-MS) has been used to identify process impurities in a batch of the anti-atherosclerotic drug, SB-253149. The impurities were separated from the main drug compound by capillary electrophoresis (CE) using an ammonium formate buffer at low pH in an untreated fused silica capillary. The CE method was initially developed using UV as the detection mode and then later structural elucidation work was achieved using an ion trap mass spectrometer. To maintain peak resolution and peak shape when the CE system was coupled to the mass spectrometer, a modified capillary cassette linked to a coaxial sheath flow electrospray ionisation (ESI) interface was used. By performing MS/MS experiments in conjunction with chemical knowledge of the reactivities of SB-253149, it was possible to propose molecular structures for impurities detected in the batch of SB-253149. The results from this study revealed that most of the process impurities in SB-253149 were dimeric derivatives of the parent molecule as well as trace levels of the starting material. This type of information was vital in process control and optimisation for the synthetic route for this drug.     

Integrated system for on-line gas and liquid chromatography with a single mass spectrometric detector for the automated analysis of environmental samples

An integrated system has been developed which combines liquid (LC) and gas (GC) chromatographic separation with a single mass spectrometer (MS). On-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) of 10–200 ml aqueous samples on a short (10 × 2.0 mm I.D.) precolumn packed with a styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer is used for analyte enrichment. The trace-enrichment procedure was automated by means of a PROSPEKT cartridge-exchange/solvent-selection/valve-switching unit. After sample loading, the precolumn is eluted on-line in two subsequent runs, first onto the GC-MS system and, next, onto the LC-MS system using a particle beam (PB) interface. Prior to entering the PB-MS, the LC eluent passes through the flow cell of a UV diode-array detector (DAD). Both GC-MS and LC-PB-MS generate classical electron ionisation (EI) and chemical ionisation (CI) spectra which are useful for the identification of low- and sub-μg/l concentrations of environmental pollutants covering a wide polarity and volatility range. The LC-DAD data provide additional means for quantitation and yield complementary spectral information. All three detection systems (GC-MS, LC-DAD, LC-PB-MS) and the trace-enrichment procedure are fully automated and controlled from the keyboard of the central computer. With such a ‘MULTIANALYSIS’ system GC-MS, LC-DAD and LC-MS data of the same sample can be obtained within 3 h. The system was optimised with nine chlorinated pesticides in drinking water as test mixture. With 100-ml samples detection limits in GC-MS were 0.0005−0.03 μg/l, and in LC-PB-MS 0.5–7 μg/l, both in the full-scan (EI) mode. Negative chemical ionisation (NCI) with methane as reagent gas improved the sensitivity of six halogenated compounds 3- to 30-fold and provided relevant information for structural elucidation of unknown compounds in real-world samples. LC-DAD detection limits varied from 0.01 to 0.05 μg/l. Relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) of retention times were less than 0.2% in all systems, R.S.D.s of peak areas were 5–15% for GC-MS and LC-PB-MS and less than 5% for LC-DAD. The ‘MULTIANALYSIS’ system was used to analyse surface water samples and river sediment extracts; several pollutants were detected and identified.     

The rapid identification of drug metabolites using capillary liquid chromatography coupled to an ion trap mass spectrometer

Capillary liquid chromatography (LC) using a 320 microns column and a flow rate of 10 microL/min has been coupled to an ion trap mass spectrometer using electrospray ionisation (ESI) to enable the rapid and effective identification of metabolites in urine, following oral administration of a novel human neutrophil elastase inhibitor, GW311616. Metabolites were identified from their mass (MS) spectra and tandem (MS/MS) mass spectra using minimal sample (1 microL of urine) and no sample pretreatment. Sensitivity assessment has shown that both molecular weight and structural information is obtainable on as little as 5 pg of compound, making the capillary LC/ion trap system as described an ideal analytical tool for the detection and characterisation of low level metabolites in biofluids (particularly when sample volume is limited). This level of detection was unattainable using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in full-scan mode, although 200 fg on column was detected using selected reaction monitoring target analysis.     

Capillary liquid chromatography/atmospheric-pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry: a comparison with liquid chromatography/matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight for the identification of tryptic peptides

The atmospheric-pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation quadrupole ion trap (AP-MALDI-QIT) analysis of tryptic peptides is reported following capillary liquid chromatographic (LC) separation and direct analysis of a protein digest. Peptide fragments were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting from mass spectrometric data and sequence analysis obtained by tandem mass spectrometry of the principal mass spectral peaks using a data-dependent scanning protocol. These data were compared with those from mass spectrometric analysis using capillary LC/MALDI-time-of-flight (TOF) and capillary LC/electrospray ionisation (ESI)-quadrupole TOF. For all three configurations the resulting data were searched against the MSDB database, using MASCOT and the sequence coverage compared for each technique. Complementary data were obtained using the three techniques.     

Mass fingerprinting of toxic fractions from the venom of the Indian red scorpion, Mesobuthus tamulus: biotope-specific variation in the expression of venom peptides

The red scorpion, Mesobuthus tamulus, is found in two distinct biotopes within the Indian state of Maharastra-a tropical, sea-level biotope and a semi-arid biotope, up to 600 m. Scorpions from these two geographical areas show marked differences in toxicity. Using mass spectrometry, we have shown biotope-specific variation in the expression of peptides from scorpions collected from these two distinct areas. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) were assessed as techniques for obtaining mass fingerprint data. On line LC/ESI-MS was judged to be the method of choice and unique biotope-specific mass fingerprints, with key diagnostic markers, were obtained.     

Liquid chromatography — Particle beam mass spectrometry for identification of unknown pollutants in water

Summary Trace enrichment on a precolumn packed with copolymer material, coupled on-line with reversed-phase, column liquid chromatography-particle beammass spectrometry (RPLC-PB-MS) has been used for both target and non-target analysis of water samples. RPLC is carried out on a C-18-bonded silica column using a linear acetonitrile-0.1 M ammonium acetate gradient. Using optimised PB-MS conditions and 100–250 ml water samples, the detection limits for several phenylureas are in the 0.03–0.05 g l^–1 range using the full-scan mode; repeatability is good and the LC-PB-MS system is robust. Several surface and drinking water samples have been analysed and low levels of various environmental contaminants have been identified using electron impact mass spectra. Applying chemical ionisation with methane as reagent gas in both the positive and negative mode in conjunction with PB-MS provides relevant confirmatory information.     

The application of gas chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry to impurity identification in Pharmaceutical Development

Accurate mass measurement (used to determine elemental formulae) is an essential tool for impurity identification in pharmaceutical development for process understanding. Accurate mass liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) is used widely for these types of analyses; however, there are still many occasions when gas chromatography (GC)/MS is the appropriate technique. Therefore, the provision of robust technology to provide accurate mass GC/MS (and GC/MS/MS) for this type of activity is essential. In this report we describe the optimisation and application of a newly available atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) interface to couple GC to time‐of‐flight (TOF) MS. To fully test the potential of the new interface the APCI source conditions were optimised, using a number of standard compounds, with a variety of structures, as used in synthesis at AstraZeneca. These compounds were subsequently analysed by GC/APCI‐TOF MS. This study was carried out to evaluate the range of compounds that are amenable to analysis using this technique. The range of compounds that can be detected and characterised using the technique was found to be extremely broad and include apolar hydrocarbons such as toluene. Both protonated molecules ([M + H]⁺) and radical cations (M^+.) were observed in the mass spectra produced by APCI, along with additional ion signals such as [M + H + O]⁺. The technique has been successfully applied to the identification of impurities in reaction mixtures from organic synthesis in process development. A typical mass accuracy of 1–2 mm/zunits (m/z 80–500) was achieved allowing the reaction impurities to be identified based on their elemental formulae. These results clearly demonstrate the potential of the technique as a tool for problem solving and process understanding in pharmaceutical development. The reaction mixtures were also analysed by GC/electron ionisation (EI)‐MS and GC/chemical ionisation (CI)‐MS to understand the capability of GC/APCI‐MS relative to these two firmly established techniques. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel approach for sensitivity enhancement in atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry of chlorophylls

Differences in the ionisation efficiency of chlorophylls and their phaeophytin counterparts result in lower sensitivity for atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometric detection of the former. Improvement in the sensitivity of detection of chlorophyll of around an order of magnitude at a concentration of 1 x 10(-6)mol L(-1) has been achieved using post-column addition of methanoic acid during analysis by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The method gives linear response and is a simple strategy to improve sensitivity both for LC/MS and LC/MS/MS without loss of information relating to the precise nature of the tetrapyrrole distributions. Detection levels achieved exceed those obtained by absorbance detection.     

Analysis of impurities in pharmaceuticals by LC‐MS with cold electron ionization

Pharmaceuticals require careful and precise determination of their impurities that might harm the user upon consumption. Although today, the most common technique for impurities identification is liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS), it has several downsides due to the nature of the ionization method. Also, the analyses in many cases are targeted thus despite being present, some of the compounds will not be revealed. In this paper, we propose and show a new method for untargeted analysis and identification of impurities in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The instrument used for these analyses is a novel electron ionization (EI) LC‐MS with supersonic molecular beams (SMB). The EI‐LC‐MS‐SMB was implemented for analyses of several drug samples spiked with an impurity. The instrument provides EI mass spectra with enhanced molecular ions, named Cold EI, which increases the identification probabilities when the compound is identified with the aid of an EI library like National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). We analyzed ibuprofen and its impurities, and both the API and the expected impurity were identified with names and structures by the NIST library. Moreover, other unexpected impurities were found and identified proving the ability of the EI‐LC‐MS‐SMB system for truly untargeted analysis. The results show a broad dynamic range of four orders of magnitude at the same run with a signal‐to‐noise ratio of over 10 000 for the API and almost uniform response.     

Identification strategies for flame retardants employing time‐of‐flight mass spectrometric detectors along with spectral and spectra‐less databases

In the past, the preferred strategy for the identification of unknown compounds was to search in an appropriate mass spectral database for spectra obtained using either electron ionisation (GC‐MS analyses) or collision‐induced dissociation (LC‐MS/MS analyses). Recently, an increase has been seen in the use of accurate mass instruments and spectra‐less databases, based on monoisotopic accurate mass alone. In this article, we describe a systematic workflow for the screening and identification of new flame retardants. This approach utilises LC‐quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight MS and spectra‐less databases based only on monoisotopic accurate mass for the identification of ‘unknowns’. An in‐house database was built, and the input parameters used in the data analysis process were optimised for flame retardant chemicals, so that it can be easily transferred to other laboratories. The procedure was successfully applied to dust, foam and textiles from car interiors and indoor consumer products. The developed method was demonstrated for the main new flame retardant present in Antiblaze V6 and for the three unreported reaction by‐products/impurities present in the same technical mixture. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of urinary nucleosides. I. Optimisation of high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry

In order to optimise the analysis of urinary nucleosides by high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS), the HPLC separation of these compounds was performed at different 'flow rates' and 0.2mL/min was found to give both a better separation and ionisation. The ionisation conditions were optimised to give the best intensity of the molecules quasi-molecular ions. The ion distribution profile and ionisation in both positive and negative mode were examined and the detection of the protonated molecule in positive mode chosen for further analysis. The limits of detection of the method developed are reported and representative LC/MS and LC/MS/MS spectra shown. Typical urinary nucleoside chromatograms are presented.     

Characterisation of nicotine and related compounds using electrospray ionisation with ion trap mass spectrometry and with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and their detection by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)) has been used to study the fragmentation patterns of nicotine and nine of its related compounds. From this study certain characteristic fragmentations are apparent with generally the pyrrolidine or piperidine ring being subject to chemical modifications. The structures of the product ions proposed for the ESI-MS(n) study have been supported by results from electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOF-MS). Compounds with pyrrolidine and piperidine rings that possess an unsubstituted N atom have been shown to lose NH(3) at the MS(2) stage. Those compounds with N-methyl groups lose CH(3)NH(2) at the MS(2) stage. The loss of NH(3) or CH(3)NH(2) leaves the corresponding rings opened and this is followed by ring closure at the pyridine-2 carbon atom. Mono-N-oxides fragment in a similar way but the di-N-oxide can also fragment by cleavage of the bond between the pyridine and pyrrolidine rings. Cotinine also can undergo cleavage of this bond between the rings.This data therefore provides useful information on how substituents and the nature of the non-pyridine ring can affect the fragmentation patterns of nicotine and its related compounds. This information can be used in the characterisation of these compounds by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) which results in the separation of nicotine and its related compounds with limits of detection (LODs) ranging from 15 to 105 ng/mL. The use of LC/ESI-MS to study nicotine-containing samples resulted in the simultaneous and unambiguous identification of seven of the compounds discussed in this paper: cotinine identified at retention time 12.5 min (with its [M+H](+) ion at m/z 177), nornicotine 16.0 min (m/z 149), anatabine 18.0 min (m/z 161), myosmine 18.5 min (m/z 147), anabasine 20.4 min (m/z 163), nicotine 22.2 min (m/z 163), and nicotyrine 31.4 min (m/z 159). For quality control of nicotine replacement therapy products, these nicotine impurities can be readily identified and determined at levels up to 0.3% for single impurities and up to 1.0% for total impurities.     

Application of liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry to the characterization of the related substances of clarithromycin

A selective reversed-phase liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS(n)) method was developed for the characterization of components of the semi-synthetic macrolide clarithromycin. Mass spectral data were acquired online on a LCQ ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source operated in the positive ion mode. One unknown compound was structurally elucidated and two other unknowns were characterized using the MS/MS and MS(n) collision-induced dissociation spectra of reference substances as interpretative templates, combined with knowledge of the nature of functional group fragmentation behaviour. Given the importance attached to the identification of impurities of unknown identity in pharmaceutical substances, this study is useful for companies producing clarithromycin.     

ESI-MS/MS analysis of underivatised amino acids: a new tool for the diagnosis of inherited disorders of amino acid metabolism. Fragmentation study of 79 molecules of biological interest in positive and negative ionisation mode

The diagnosis of inherited disorders of amino acids (AA) metabolism is usually performed on automated analysers by ion-exchange chromatography and quantification after ninhydrin derivatisation of about 50 different AA. A single run liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for these molecules can be an alternative to this time-consuming technique. The first step of this development is the infusion study of the fragmentation of 79 molecules of biological interest in electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS), in positive and in negative ionisation mode. Among them, three molecules can be detected only in negative ionisation mode, 38 only in positive mode and 38 in the two modes. All the most abundant fragmentations are presented, with optimisation of the MS/MS parameters. The positive ionisation mode was retained for the simultaneous analysis of 76 molecules. One sensitive and/or specific transition is proposed for the monitoring of each molecule. Improvement in sensitivity of detection was obtained with the use of an acidic mobile phase. Flow injection analysis studies led us to highlight a number of interferences-due to isobaric molecules, to in-source collision-induced dissociation, or to natural isotopic distribution of the elements-which are listed. For a reliable quantification method, these molecules have to be separated by LC before analysis in the tandem mass spectrometer. Ion-pairing reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) using perfluorinated carboxylic acids as ion-pairing agents has already been found suitable for analysis of AA in MS/MS positive ionisation mode and is under development.     

Nanospray analysis of the venom of the tarantula Theraphosa leblondi: a powerful method for direct venom mass fingerprinting and toxin sequencing

Mass spectrometric methods, including matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS), on-line liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS), and nanospray ionisation/hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (nanoESI-QqTOFMS), were applied to characterize by mass fingerprinting the venom of the French Guyanese tarantula Theraphosa leblondi. Of these techniques direct nanoESI-QqTOFMS, which allowed the detection of 65 protonated molecules with high mass accuracy, appeared to give the best results. Three major peptides, TlTx1, TlTx2 and TlTx3, were sequenced using a combination of nanoESI-MS/MS and enzyme digestion/MS and MS/MS experiments. Each sequence was confirmed by automated Edman sequencing. In patch-clamp experiments these peptides were found to have a specific inhibitory effect on the voltage-dependent potassium channel, Kv4.2.     

Investigation of unknown related substances in commercial erythromycin samples with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

A selective reversed phase liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS(n)) method is described for the identification of erythromycin impurities and related substances in commercial erythromycin samples. Mass spectral data are acquired on a LCQ ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray interface operated in positive ion mode. The LCQ is ideally suited for identification of impurities and related substances because it provides on-line LC/MS(n) capability. Compared with UV detection, this hyphenated LC/MS(n) technique provides as a main advantage efficient identification of novel substances without time-consuming isolation and purification procedures. Using this method four novel related substances were identified in commercial samples.     

'On-the-fly' hydrogen/deuterium exchange liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry using a dual-sprayer atmospheric pressure ionisation source

In-source 'on-the-fly' hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) has been investigated. The work was performed using a dual-sprayer source. The analyte was introduced through an electrospray ionisation sprayer and D2O was introduced through an atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation sprayer. To achieve H/D exchange sufficient to determine the number of exchangeable H atoms of a compound, a saturated 'steady-state' D2O atmosphere had to be created in the ion source by having a 2:1 or higher D2O-to-analyte flow rate ratio. Under these conditions H/D exchange levels of 32-90% were achieved. In most cases the H/D exchange was sufficient to measure the number of exchangeable H atoms in some antiulcerative and anthelmintic pharmaceuticals. The concept of in-source 'on-the-fly' H/D exchange by introducing the deuterating agent via a second sprayer has been shown. It allows the integrity of the chromatographic separation to be kept, since the H/D exchange takes place post-separation.     

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the identification of impurities in d-allethrin samples

A previous GC/MS study highlighting the impurity profile of the synthetic pesticide d-allethrin is extended here to validate and confirm the impurities identity through the development of soft ionisation HPLC-MS methods. To accomplish this, we developed a reverse phase LC-MS analysis in gradient elution with two distinct soft ionisation techniques, the atmospheric pressure ionisation with electrospray source (API-ESI) and the chemical ionisation (APCI). A single quadrupole and an ion trap, which allowed the simultaneous determination of the molecular masses and structural information of the impurities by acquisition of collisionally induced (CID) product ions spectrum and in-source fragmentation, were employed as analysers. Single quadrupole and ion trap analysers resulted perfectly matching in the d-allethrin impurity fragmentation patterns. All the main impurities over 0.1% identified by GC/MS were confirmed. Results indicate that the proposed HPLC/MS method was found appropriate to confirm the presence of impurities such as chrysolactone, chloro allethrin derivatives, allethrolone and chrysanthemic acid, excluding their formation under GC/MS strong ionisation condition.     

Characterisation of fluorinated copolymers using liquid chromatography coupled on-line to mass spectrometry, with automated data interpretation

A perfluorinated co-polyether was characterised in terms of the number and type of functional end groups present on the molecule. The polymer was separated chromatographically according to the polarity of the polymer end groups and the separation was coupled on-line to an electrospray ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Negative-mode electrospray ionisation of the relatively non-polar polymer was achieved by post-column addition of a polar constituent to the mobile phase. LC-MS analysis of polydisperse analytes is a highly data intensive technique and manual interpretation of the resulting data can be extremely complicated, especially for the characterisation of copolymers or polymers with end-group distributions. In order to overcome this problem, an automated data-analysis program was developed that allows the user to quickly determine the probability of the presence of a certain molecular compound. The program evaluated data in terms of the possible combinations of monomeric units and end groups that could be combined to make up the mass values present in the mass spectra. Using the program, the polymer can be characterised according to its molar-mass, chemical-composition and functionality-type distributions. A graphical representation of the LC-MS analyses is presented to give a clear overview of the two-dimensional separation. The identification of various end groups on the polymer is also presented graphically, as (a) a histogram (frequency of matches versus time), (b) a two-dimensional plot (masses that match the particular end group combination versus LC retention time) and (c) a plot of average chemical composition versus LC retention time.     

Determination of phthalates in milk and milk products by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric method using pneumatically assisted electrospray ionisation (LC/ESI-MS/MS) was developed for determination of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), di-'isononyl' phthalate (DINP) and di-'isodecyl' phthalate (DIDP) in milk and milk products including infant formulas. The phthalates were extracted by a mixture of tert-butyl methyl ether and hexane from liquid samples. DBP, BBP and DEHP were removed from fats by liquid/liquid extraction into acetonitrile while DINP and DIDP were cleaned up on deactivated silica. The phthalates were detected in positive ion mode after separation on a reversed-phase C5 analytical column. Two transition products were monitored for each compound. The detection limits related to the transition products of lowest abundance were in the range 5-9 microg/kg.