Separation of stereoisomers of several furan derivatives by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry,supercritical fluid chromatography,and liquid chromatography using chiral stationary phases

The direct separation of several stereoisomers (enantiomers and geometrical isomers) of furan derivatives, important intermediates for the synthesis of physiologically active natural products, was achieved using capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with a per-O-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, supercritical fluid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography with a tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) of cellulose or amylose for the chiral stational phases, respectively. The temperature dependence of the peak resolution (Rs) and the retention factor (k) over the range of 110-130 degrees was studied using crotyl furfuryl ether in gas chromatography. Successive increases in the Rs value and of the difference between the k value of the E-isomer and the k value of the Z-isomer were observed when the gradient temperature was decreased. The per-O-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin column was suitable for use with volatile furan ethers whose molecular masses are between 150 and 180. In conclusion, the separation of thermally unstable furan derivatives was accomplished using supercritical fluid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography.     

Detection of Nepsilon-monomethyllysine using high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Nepsilon-Monomethyllysine was identified in the serum, urine, brain, and liver samples of rats treated per os with L-deprenyl. The identification procedure included reaction with Fmoc chloride, clean-up, and analysis using HPLC-UV-MS. Oral administration of (-)-N-14C-methyl-N-propynyl(2-phenyl-1-methyl)ethylammonium hydrochloride L-deprenyl) to rats resulted in transfer of the radiolabelled methyl group to the Nepsilon-amino group of the endogenous lysine. The radiolabelled Nepsilon-monomethyllysine was urinary eliminated together with the other radiolabelled deprenyl metabolites, such as deprenyl-N-oxide and methamphetamine. The presence of Nepsilon-monomethyllysine has also been traced, and its concentrations were compared in the serum, liver and brain of rats subjected to L-deprenyl treatment. Methyl group transfer from the L-deprenyl to endogenous compounds; and the urinary elimination of their products may offer a vital way to eliminate or to decrease the degree of drug transmethylation to the lysine constituents of blood vessels' proteins.     

Determination of dexamethasone in bovine tissues by coupled-column normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A new method for the determination of dexamethasone in bovine liver and muscle tissues has been developed. Crude tissue extracts were obtained by means of a three-phase liquid-liquid extraction scheme. The resulting residue was subjected to coupled-column normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography which served to isolate the drug for the purpose of screening and quantification. Sample was injected onto the first column of the system, a phenyl column, from which a heart-cut was diverted to a short silica column which retained dexamethasone. The contents of this column were backflushed onto a cyanopropyl column which isolated dexamethasone. Mobile phases consisted of hexane modified with 2-propanol, acetic acid, and water. Analysis of each sample was completed in 15 min. Quantitation was performed by external standard calibration of ultraviolet response at 239 nm. Limits of detection were estimated to be 4 and 6 ppb in muscle and liver, respectively. In addition to screening and quantitation, the coupled-column system purified tissue extracts for gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis which, in the selected-ion monitoring mode, confirmed the identity of the trimethylsilyl-enol-trimethylsilyl derivative of dexamethasone.     

Analysis of drug metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using glass capillary columns

Summary The routine use of glass-capillary columns in a general applications laboratory for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is discussed. The instrumentation is described with emphasis on the interface between glass capillary columns and the mass spectrometer. Two examples of the analysis of metabolites demonstrate the successful use of this system.     

Analysis of tetramethylpyrazine in Ephedrae herba by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple and reliable HPLC method was developed for the determination of 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) in Ephedrae herba. Further identification of TMP was achieved using GC-MS. The mobile phase used was methanol-water-35% acetic acid (35:65:0.5, v/v/v) at a flow-rate of 0.8 ml/min. The detection wavelength was set at 290 nm. The linear range of the peak area calibration curve of TMP was 2.64-264 mg/l (r=0.9987) and the recovery for TMP in Ephedrae herba extracts was 101.1-106.9%. The relative standard deviations of retention time and peak area were 0.18 and 1.5% (n=6), respectively. The detection limit of TMP was 0.03 mg/l. The contents of TMP in Ephedrae herba could easily be determined within 10 min.     

Determination of beta-carbolines in foodstuffs by high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method combined with fluorimetric detection is described for the determination of beta-carboline (norharman) and 1-methyl-beta-carboline (harman). The analysis of foodstuffs for the identification of beta-carbolines is facilitated by clean-up samples using Bond Elut PRS cartridges. Recoveries were excellent. Further, a high-performance liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric method was also developed for their identification. The concentration of beta-carboline among the foodstuffs and alcoholic beverages varied greatly. Also, norharman and harman were observed in uncooked foodstuffs, whereas acetaldehyde was found in most fermented food. The toxicological implication of beta-carbolines in foodstuffs is discussed.     

Identification of aromatic moieties and mycosamine in antifungal heptaenes with high-performance liquid chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of the aromaticity of heptaene polyene antibiotics has been developed. The released aromatic moiety of the heptaene polyenes aureofungin, candicidin, candimycin, hamycin and trichomycin was assayed after alkaline hydrolysis. The presence of p-aminoacetophenone (PAAP) and N-methyl-p-aminoacetophenone (N-methyl-PAAP) in the hydrolysates was determined by HPLC, HPLC-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and gas chromatography-MS (GC-MS). Candicidin and hamycin contained only the PAAP residue; aureofungin contained both PAAP and N-methyl-PAAP. Trichomycin contained PAAP and also some unknown component of molecular weight 179. The aromatic nature of the individual components of the heptaene complex was demonstrated using radioactivity flow detection for the determination of the incorporation of [14C]-p-aminobenzoic acid to individual candicidin components. Ammonia chemical ionization MS was successfully used for the GC-MS identification of the acetylated mycosamine moiety of heptaenes.     

Identification of triacylglycerols by high-performance liquid chromatography-gas-liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Triacylglycerols from rat adipose tissue were chromatographed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), with a gradient of propan-2-ol in acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Fractions of the material eluting from the column were collected and analysed by automated gas - liquid chromatography of the fatty acid methyl esters obtained after transmethylation. Triacylglycerols were identified by using a combination of their fatty acid content and elution time from the HPLC column. Fractions corresponding to whole peaks or groups of peaks were also collected and re-chromatographed on a liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry system equipped with a belt interface. For most triacylglycerols, good agreement was obtained between the two methods, although mass spectrometric identification of the early eluting peaks was complicated by poor resolution of the triacylglycerols on the HPLC system.     

Determination of impurities in high-purity hydrogen sulfide by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using gas adsorption capillary columns

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been used to study the impurity composition of high-purity hydrogen sulfide. Impurities of atmospheric gases, COS,CS₂, SO₂, benzene, toluene, thiophene, and its homologues have been detected. Detection limits of impurities are 10⁻⁷-10⁻⁵ vol %.     

Identification of phenprocoumon metabolites in human urine by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The oral anticoagulant phenprocoumon is eliminated in urine mainly as the glucuronide conjugate to an extent of 20% of the dose. The urine from patients undergoing phenprocoumon therapy was investigated and the following metabolites were isolated and identified: 7-hydroxyphenprocoumon as the main component, and 4'-hydroxyphenprocoumon and 6-hydroxyphenprocoumon as conjugates. They were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography and, after methylation, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.     

Separation of stilbenes by capillary electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography

Stilbenes, fluorescence whitening agents (FWAs), are usually added to cleaning agents in household and in industry. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was often applied to separate various compounds simultaneously for its multinomial advantages. In this paper, we established analytical methods of six diaminostilbenes with CE and ion-pair chromatography (IPC). The optimum mobile phase for IPC was 11.78 mM tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate (TBA) aqueous and acetonitrile. An IPC method has been developed for simple and direct separation for diaminostilbenes, anionic substances, with TBA as ion-pair reagent. Satisfactory linear ranges (7.0 x 10(-3) approximately 3.0 x 10 microg/mL), correlation coefficients (0.9992-0.9999), and detection limits (6-13 ng/mL) were obtained. Separations were also performed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) using a buffer consisting of Tris (pH 10.1), n-tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) and acetonitrile. A linear range of 5.0 x 10(-1) - 4.0 x 10 microg/mL, correlation coefficients between 0.9975 and 0.9998, and detection limits between 337 and 446 ng/mL were obtained. In particular, the separation of a pair of similar compounds (mass difference of 2) was achieved by addition of TTAB. The optimum analytical methods of CE and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were applied to commercial household with direct analysis and standard addition. No significant bias were shown between them by t-test at 95% confidence level.     

Analysis of aspartyl peptide degradation products by high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A reversed-phase HPLC method for the analysis of degradation products of the model aspartyl tripeptides Phe-Asp-GlyNH2 and Gly-Asp-PheNH2 after incubation at pH 2 and 10 was developed. Most of the compounds could be separated with a gradient of acetonitrile in water containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid. Resolution of the isomeric pairs L-Phe-alpha-L-Asp-GlyNH2/L-Phe-beta-L-Asp-GlyNH2 and L-Phe-alpha-D-Asp-GlyOH/L-Phe-beta-D-Asp-GlyOH was achieved with a gradient of acetonitrile in phosphate buffer, pH 5.0. Under acidic conditions the major degradation pathway was cleavage of the peptide backbone amide bonds yielding dipeptides and amino acids, C-terminal deamidation as well as formation of succidinimyl peptides. At alkaline pH both deamidation of the C-terminal amide as well as isomerization and concomitant enantiomerization of Asp were observed. The peaks were identified both by reference substances and by online electrospray mass spectrometry. The results were compared to a previous developed capillary electrophoresis method. Diastereomeric pairs ofpeptides that could not be separated by capillary electrophoresis were resolved by HPLC while the separation of corresponding pairs of alpha- and beta-Asp peptides was not always achieved by HPLC in contrast to capillary electrophoresis illustrating that both techniques can be complimentary in peptide analysis.     

Low flow high-performance liquid chromatography solvent delivery system designed for tandem capillary liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A solvent delivery system is described that is designed to increase the efficiency of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analyses. Gradients formed by using two low pressure syringe pumps are stored in a length of narrow bore tubing (gradient loop) mounted on a standard high pressure switching valve. The preformed gradient is pushed through the column by using a high pressure syringe pump. The system is fully automated and can be controlled with either a personal computer or the mass spectrometer data system. Advantages include gradient operation without the use of split flows, pressure programed flow control for rapid sample loading and recycling to initial conditions, and a flow rate range of 0.1–20 μL/min, which is suitable for packed capillary columns 50–500 μm in diameter. The system has been used extensively for rapid molecular weight determinations of intact protein samples, as well as LC/MS and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses of complex peptide mixtures.     

Separation of pyrimidine derivatives by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Chromatographic behavior and separation conditions of pyrimidine derivatives were studied by high-performance liquid chromatography using a reversed-phase column and a multiwave UV detector.     

Determination of oxprenolol in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography, in comparison with gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantitative assay of oxprenolol in human plasma is described. After addition of alprenolol as internal standard, the compounds are extracted from plasma at alkaline pH into an organic phase and back-extracted into an acidic aqueous phase. Separation of the plasma components and metabolites was achieved on a reversed-phase column. Concentrations down to 66 nmol/l (20 ng/ml) can be determined with UV detection at 222 nm. This technique compares favourably with gas chromatographic and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric methods.     

Determination and identification of amiloride in human urine by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed to screen and determine amiloride (I) in human urine. The detection limit of the method is 0.12 micrograms/ml and the recovery of amiloride from urine was 80.4-85.5% at different concentrations. The coefficients of variation were less than 2.8 and 4.4% for intra- and inter-assays, respectively. Total urinary excretion of I in 24 h after oral administration of 5 mg or 15 mg of I ranged from 22.0 to 33.3% of the total dose for three different subjects. I could be detected in urine up to at least 44 h after a 5-mg dose and 72 h after a 15-mg dose. A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) confirmatory method was established based on the methanolysis of I to methyl 3,5-diamino-6-chloropyrazine-carboxylate (II). The di-N-trimethylsilyl derivative of II showed very good GC-MS properties and provided reliable structure information for confirmation analysis of I. This is the first time that a reliable GC-MS method has been reported for the detection of urinary I.     

Separation of pantothenic acid derivatives by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A variant of the use of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is described which permits the separation of pantothenic acid derivatives. The stationary phase used was a μBondapak-C₁₈ (4.1 × 250 mm column; 4.6 × 50 nm precolumn). Elution was performed in the isocratic regime using as mobile phase 20 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 5.0)-methanol (91.5:8.5). The rate of elution was 1 ml/min. Retention times in the column for phosphopantothenate, pantothenate, phosphopantetheine, CoA, and dephosphoCoA were about 3.5, 6, 10.5, 16, and 42 min, respectively. This method, with radioactive detection, can be used for the analysis of pantothenic acid derivatives in liver extracts. One hour after white rats had been injected with [¹⁴C]pantothenic acid, the abovementioned components (with the exception of dephosphoCoA) contained the label in a ratio of 4:18:54:24. Institute of Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Belorussian SSR, Grodno. Translated from Khimiya Prirodynkh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 855–858, November–December, 1988.