Determination of the glycosylation site in flavonoid mono-O-glycosides by collision-induced dissociation of electrospray-generated deprotonated and sodiated molecules

The influence of the glycosylation site on the fragmentation behavior of 18 flavonoid glycoside standards was studied using positive and negative electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in combination with collision-induced dissociation and tandem mass spectrometry. The glycosylation position is shown to affect the relative abundance of the radical aglycone ions that can be observed in the [M-H]- collision-induced dissociation spectra. In particular, the radical aglycone ions are very abundant for deprotonated flavonol 3-O-glycosides. Collisional activation of the radical aglycone ions produced from positional isomers revealed minor differences: m,nB0- product ions are pronounced for 7-O-glycosides, whereas m,nA0- product ions are relatively more abundant for 4'-O-glycosides. In addition, the ratio between the radical aglycone and the regular aglycone ions in the [M+Na]+ high-energy collision-induced dissociation spectra gives an indication about the glycosylation site. This ion ratio allows the differentiation between flavonoid 3-O- and 7-O-glycosides or can be useful in the comparison of unknown compounds with standards. Unambiguous differentiation between O-glycosylation at the common positions of flavonoid O-glycosides, i.e. the 3-, 4'- and 7-positions, is achieved by collisional activation of sodiated molecules at high collision energy. The presence of a B-ring product ion containing the sugar residue indicates 4'-O-glycosylation, whereas the loss of the B-ring part from the aglycone product ion is characteristic of 3-O-glycosylation and the loss of the B-ring part from both the [M+Na]+ precursor ion and the aglycone product ion points to 7-O-glycosylation.     

Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the characterization of twenty-three flavonoids in the extract of Dalbergia odorifera

A method incorporating high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry, with parallel analysis by HPLC with UV detection using a diode-array detector, was developed for the qualitative characterization of flavonoids in D. odorifera. Twenty-three flavonoids, including six isoflavones, six neoflavones, four isoflavanones, three flavanones, two chalcones, one isoflavanonol and one pterocarpan, were unambiguously identified by comparing their retention times, UV and MS spectra with those of authentic compounds. Furthermore, the collision-induced dissociations of the [M-H]- ions were studied to clarify the MS behavior of the different types of flavonoids. In negative ion ESI-MS all the flavonoids yielded prominent [M-H]- ions in the first order mass spectra. Fragments involving losses of CH3*, H2O, CO, C2H2O, and CO2 were observed in the MS/MS spectra. Each of the seven types of flavonoid showed characteristic MS/MS fragmentation patterns. The isoflavanones, flavanones and chalcones were observed to undergo retro-Diels-Alder fragmentations. The spectra of almost all the neoflavonoids unexpectedly exhibited only [M-H-CH3]-* radical anions as base peaks without any further fragmentation. Substitution positions also remarkably influenced the fragmentation behavior, which could assist in distinction among the flavonoid isomers. The fragmentation rules deduced here could aid in the characterization of other flavonoids of these types.     

Structural characterization of flavonol di-O-glycosides from Farsetia aegyptia by electrospray ionization and collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry

This study reports the application of mass spectrometric methods to characterize unknown flavonoids of the herb Farsetia aegyptia Turra (Crucifereae). High-performance liquid chromatography was performed in combination with UV-photodiode array detection (LC/UV-DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) in both positive and negative ion modes. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectral data were obtained off-line by nanospray (nano-ESI) analysis, which provided a wealth of information and led to the structural proposal of the flavonol di-O-glycosides present in the herb extract. In addition to the mass spectral data, we also report NMR data for the major compound which allowed the completion of its structural elucidation. The Farsetia aegyptia Turra herb extract was found to contain three flavonol di-O-glycosides containing a monosaccharidic residue linked to the 3-O position and a disaccharidic residue linked to the 7-O position; the major compound was characterized as the new flavonoid, isorhamnetin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinoside 7-O-[beta-D-glucosyl-1 --> 2]-alpha(L)rhamnoside. Different types of CID spectra, i.e., low-energy [M+H]+, [M+Na]+ and [M--H]- spectra as well as high-energy [M+Na]+ spectra, were evaluated with respect to their utility to locate the O-linked saccharidic residues in flavonol di-O-glycosides and to determine the sequence in the disaccharidic part. In agreement with previously published data, the 3-O-glycosyl residue was more readily lost from the protonated molecule than the 7-O-glycosyl residue. The opposite behavior was noted for the fragmentation of the deprotonated and sodiated molecules. Radical ions were observed in the high-energy [M+Na]+ CID spectra which provided supporting information on the glycosylation positions.     

Evaluation of glycosylation and malonylation patterns in flavonoid glycosides during LC/MS/MS metabolite profiling

Flavonoid conjugates constitute several classes of plant phenolic secondary metabolites including many isomeric compounds differing in the hydroxylation pattern and substitution of their rings with different groups such as alkyls, acyls or sugars. These compounds occur in plant tissues mainly as glycosides and in many cases it is necessary to have reliable and detailed information concerning the structure of these natural products. Our results were obtained using leaf extracts of Arabidopsis thaliana and Lupinus angustifolius in which different glycosides of flavones, flavonols and isoflavones are present. Analysis of collision-induced dissociation (CID)/MS/MS spectra of protonated [M + H](+), sodiated [M + Na](+) or deprotonated [M - H](-) molecules recorded during HPLC runs may bring needed information in this respect. However, registration of mass spectra of [M + Na](+) ions with a good efficiency is possible only after post-column addition of a sodium acetate solution to the LC column eluate. The retention of sodium cation on the saccharidic parts of the molecule is observed after the CID fragmentation. In many cases, the location of this cation on the glycan attached to C-3 hydroxyl group of flavonol led to assignment of its structure. Additionally, the determination of the structure of the aglycone and of the sequence of the glycan part was made possible through the CID data obtained from the [M + H](+) and [M - H](-) ions. CID spectra show a different order of sugar elimination from hydroxyl groups at C-3 and C-7 in flavonol glycosides isolated from A. thaliana leaves and give sufficient information to discriminate flavonoid O-diglycosides from flavonoid di-O-glycosides.     

Collision-induced fragmentation of deprotonated methoxylated flavonoids, obtained by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray operated in the negative mode was used to analyse methoxylated flavonoids. They were found to produce radical anions by collision-induced fragmentation of the aglycones. Loss of a methyl group from the deprotonated molecule corresponding to [M - H - 15]-* ions, as well as [M - H - 15-28]-* and [M - H - 15-29]- fragment ions, were found to constitute the characteristic fragmentation for the monomethoxylated species, whereas [M - H - 15]-*, [M - H - 30]- and [M - H - 30-28]- were predominant for the polymethoxylated species. Obtained under similar conditions, the product-ion spectra of isomeric compounds were characteristically different. It is therefore possible to distinguish between methoxylated flavonoids with identical molecular mass, e.g. when screening plant extracts for flavonoid composition. However, comparison with standard compounds is necessary for the identification of unknown flavonoid aglycones.     

Structural assignment of isomeric 2-aminopyridine-derivatized oligosaccharides using negative-ion MSn spectral matching

To investigate the possibility of structural assignment based on negative-ion MS2 spectral matching, three isomeric pairs of 2-aminopyridine (PA)-derivatized non-fucosylated, fucosylated, and sialylated oligosaccharides (complex type N-glycans) were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry (HPLC/ITMS) with a sonic-spray ionization (SSI) source. In the SSI negative-ion mode the deprotonated molecule [M-2H]2- becomes prominent. Negative-ion MS2 spectra derived from such ions contain many fragment types (B and Y, C and Z, A, and D) and therefore are more informative than the positive-ion MS2 spectra derived from [M+H+Na]2+ ions, which usually consist mainly of B and Y fragment ions. In particular the internal ions (D- and E-type ions) provided useful information about the alpha1-6 branching patterns and the bisecting GlcNAc residue. Spectral matching based on the correlation coefficients between negative-ion MS2 spectra was performed in a manner similar to the positive-ion MS2 spectral matching previously reported. It was demonstrated that negative-ion MS2 spectral matching is as useful and applicable to the structural assignment of relatively large non-fucosylated, fucosylated, and sialylated PA-oligosaccharide isomers as its positive-ion counterpart.     

三重桥氧三核铬脂肪酸配合物的快原子轰击质谱研究

本文报道三重桥氧三核铬脂肪酸配合物[Cr_3(μ_3-O)(μ-OOCH)_6(H_2O)_2OOCH]和[Cr_3(μ_3-O)(μ-OOCR)_6(H_2O)_3]~+(R=CH_3,C_2H_5和C_3H_7)的快原子轰击(FAB)质谱。当桥配体为甲酸基时获得完整的配位阳离子峰(其单晶结构见文献),由于质子亲电进攻端配体甲酸基的氧,从而形成了质子化的[Cr_3(μ_3-O)(μ-OOCH)_6(H_2O)_2HCOOH]~+离子。后者可以失去CO生成[Cr_3(μ_3-O)(μ-OOCH)_6(H_2O)_3]~+,进一步的断裂和乙酸配位时的情况相同,可连续脱三个配位水,分别生成[Cr_3O(OOCR)_6(H_2O)_2]~+、[Cr_3O(OOCR)_6(H_2O)]~+和[Cr_3O(OOCR)_6]~+离子;并可进一步脱桥配基或RCO,分别生成[Cr_3O(OOCR)_5]~+、[Cr_3O(OOCR)_4]~+、[Cr_3O(OOCR)_3]~+、[Cr_3O(OOCR)_5O]~+、[Cr_3O(OOCR)_4O]~+、[Cr_3O(OOCR)_3O]~+和[Cr_3O(OOCR)_2O]~+等碎片离子。当桥配体为丙酸和丁酸时,主要观察到[Cr_3O(OOCR)_6]~+离子及其进一步断裂所形成的碎片离子,断裂过程和乙酸配位时基本相似;另外这类配合物都还形成一系列由FAB底物参与的加成离子。基于以上分析,我们提出了这类配合物可能的断裂过程,并认为随着脂肪酸碳链的增长,整个配位阳离子的稳定性下降。     

Liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric study of the phenolic composition of cocoa (Theobroma cacao)

Liquid chromatography coupled with ionspray mass spectrometry in the tandem mode (LC/MS/MS) with negative ion detection was used for the identification of a variety of phenolic compounds in a cocoa sample. Gradient elution with water and acetonitrile, both containing 0.1% HCOOH, was used. Standard solutions of 31 phenolic compounds, including benzoic and cinnamic acids and flavonoid compounds, were studied in the negative ion mode using MS/MS product ion scans. At low collisional activation, the deprotonated molecule [M - H](-) was observed for all the compounds studied. For cinnamic and benzoic acids, losses of CO(2) or formation of [M - CH(3)](-*) in the case of methoxylated compounds were observed. However, for flavonol and flavone glycosides, the spectra present both the deprotonated molecule [M - H](-) of the glycoside and the ion corresponding to the deprotonated aglycone [A - H](-). The latter ion is formed by loss of the rhamnose, glucose, galactose or arabinose residue from the glycosides. Different fragmentation patterns were observed in MS/MS experiments for flavone-C-glycosides which showed fragmentation in the sugar part. Fragmentation of aglycones provided characteristic ions for each family of flavonoids. The optimum LC/MS/MS conditions were applied to the characterization of a cocoa sample that had been subjected to an extraction/clean-up procedure which involved chromatography on Sephadex LH20 and thin-layer chromatographic monitoring. In addition to compounds described in the literature, such as epicatechin and catechin, quercetin, isoquercitrin (quercetin-3-O-glucoside) and quercetin-3-O-arabinose, other compounds were identified for the first time in cocoa samples, such as hyperoside (quercetin-3-O-galactoside), naringenin, luteolin, apigenin and some O-glucosides and C-glucosides of these compounds.     

A fast atom bombardment and field ionization/field desorption study of some isomeric unsaturated dicarboxylic acids

Geometrically isomeric dicarboxylic acids, such as maleic and fumaric acid and their methyl homologues, and the isomeric phthalic acids, have been investigated using fast atom bombardment, field ionization and field desorption mass spectrometry. The most intense peak in the positive ion fast atom bombardment spectra corresponds with the [M + H]⁺ ion. This ion, when derived from the E -acids, tragments either by successive loss of water and carbon monoxide or by elimination of carbon dioxide. In the case of the Z -acids only elimination of water from the [M + H]⁺ ions is observed to occur to a significant extent. The same is true for the [M + H]⁺ ions of the isomeric phthalic acids, that is the [M + H] ions derived from iso- and terephthalic acid exhibit more fragmentation than those of phthalic acid. All these acids undergo much less fragmentation upon field ionization, where not only abundant [M + H]⁺ ions, but also abundant [M]^+· ions, are observed. Upon field desorption only the [M + H]⁺ and [M + Na]⁺ ions are observed under the measuring conditions. Negative ion fast atom bombardment spectra of the acids mentioned have also been recorded. In addition to the most abundant [M? H]^? ions relatively intense peaks are observed, which correspond with the [M]^?˙ ions. The fragmentations observed for these ions appear to be quite different from those reported in an earlier electron impact study and in a recent atmospheric pressure ionization investigation.     

Does the electron ionization induced fragmentation of partly saturated stereoisomeric pyrrolo‐ and isoindoloquinazolinones show stereospecificity?

The electron ionization mass spectrometric behavior of pyrroloquinazolinones (1-6) and isoindoloquinazolinones (7-14) was studied. These compounds were further classified as partly saturated pyrroloquinazolinones (1-3), benzologues (7-11), methylene-bridged derivatives (4-6, 12, 13) and a bisacyl compound (14). The mass spectra of the pyrrolo- and isoindoloquinazolinones did not exhibit stereospecific retro-Diels-Alder (RDA) fragmentations. The cyclohexane-fused compounds 7 (cis annelated) and 8 (trans annelated) did display some other ions differing in their abundances that could be used to differentiate this pair of stereoisomers. Also the cyclohexene-fused compounds 2, 3, 9 and 10 exhibited somewhat different ion abundances pairwise that could be utilized for isomeric differentiation. Earlier hypothesis of pyrrolo ring cleavage via the loss of C(3)H(5)O(.) was strengthened by the fragmentation of compounds 1-4. RDA(+/-H) fragmentation is more favorable than the formation of [M-R](+) ions (R=H, C(6)H(4)CH(3), or C(6)H(4)Cl) when an unsaturated bicyclic group is present but both RDA fragmentation and [M-R](+) formation occur for cyclohexene-fused compounds, possibly because of the lower ring strain than with norbornene-fused compounds. The [M-H](+) ion was abundant for compounds 7 and 8 as was [M-Ar](+) for 1-4 and 11. Although the compounds studied might participate in amide-imidol tautomerism, no indication of such tautomerism was detected.     

Study of the collision-induced radical cleavage of flavonoid glycosides using negative electrospray ionization tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry

Negative electrospray ionization tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry was used to study the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the O-glycosidic bond from different commercially available flavonoid glycosides. Depending on the structure, flavonoid glycosides can undergo both a collision-induced homolytic and heterolytic cleavage of the O-glycosidic bond producing deprotonated radical aglycone ((Y(0) - H)(-*)) and aglycone (Y(0) (-)) product ions. The relative abundance of the radical aglycone to the aglycone fragment from flavonol-3-O-glycosides increased with increasing number of hydroxyl substituents in the B ring and in the order kaempferol - 相似文献   

Characterization of Nα-Fmoc-protected dipeptide isomers by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)): effect of protecting group on fragmentation of dipeptides

A series of positional isomeric pairs of Fmoc-protected dipeptides, Fmoc-Gly-Xxx-OY/Fmoc-Xxx-Gly-OY (Xxx=Ala, Val, Leu, Phe) and Fmoc-Ala-Xxx-OY/Fmoc-Xxx-Ala-OY (Xxx=Leu, Phe) (Fmoc=[(9-fluorenylmethyl)oxy]carbonyl) and Y=CH(3)/H), have been characterized and differentiated by both positive and negative ion electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-IT-MS(n)). In contrast to the behavior of reported unprotected dipeptide isomers which mainly produce y(1)(+) and/or a(1)(+) ions, the protonated Fmoc-Xxx-Gly-OY, Fmoc-Ala-Xxx-OY and Fmoc-Xxx-Ala-OY yield significant b(1)(+) ions. These ions are formed, presumably with stable protonated aziridinone structures. However, the peptides with Gly- at the N-terminus do not form b(1)(+) ions. The [M+H](+) ions of all the peptides undergo a McLafferty-type rearrangement followed by loss of CO(2) to form [M+H-Fmoc+H](+). The MS(3) collision-induced dissociation (CID) of these ions helps distinguish the pairs of isomeric dipeptides studied in this work. Further, negative ion MS(3) CID has also been found to be useful for differentiating these isomeric peptide acids. The MS(3) of [M-H-Fmoc+H](-) of isomeric peptide acids produce c(1)(-), z(1)(-) and y(1)(-) ions. Thus the present study of Fmoc-protected peptides provides additional information on mass spectral characterization of the dipeptides and distinguishes the positional isomers.     

Study of the characteristic fragmentation behavior of hydroquinone glycosides by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with optimization of collision energy

The fragmentation behavior of hydroquinone glycosides involving one or two sugar groups from Fraxinus sieboldiana and their analogue arbutin was investigated systematically by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in negative ion mode. The characteristic fragmentation reaction of these compounds was through the homolytic and heterolytic cleavage of the O‐glycosidic bond to produce radical aglycone ion ([Y₀ ? H]^??) and aglycone ion (Y₀^?), respectively. Unambiguous differentiation between the mono‐O‐glycoside isomers which differ in glycosylation position was achieved by comparing the relative abundance of [Y₀ ? H]^?? and Y₀^? ions with the optimized collision energy. In the fragmentation of 1, 4‐di‐O‐glycosides, only the Y₀^? ion was produced when the first glucosyl residue was expelled. However, both the [Y₀ ? H]^?? and Y₀^? ions were present when the second glucosyl residue was eliminated. In addition, an interesting [Y₀‐2H]^? ion was present in the product ion spectra of hydroquinone glycosides with methoxy group(s) substituted at C‐3 or/and C‐5 positions of the benzene ring. The results of this study can facilitate the rapid determination of hydroquinone glycosides in crude plant extracts and also reveal that the systematic investigation and optimization of collision energy play an important role in the differentiation of isomers which have subtle differences in structures. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fragmentation study of iridoid glucosides through positive and negative electrospray ionization, collision-induced dissociation and tandem mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometric methodology based on the combined use of positive and negative electrospray ionization, collision-induced dissociation (CID) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has been applied to the mass spectral study of a series of six naturally occurring iridoids through in-source fragmentation of the protonated [M+H]+, deprotonated [M--H]- and sodiated [M+Na]+ ions. This led to the unambiguous determination of the molecular masses of the studied compounds and allowed CID spectra of the molecular ions to be obtained. Valuable structural information regarding the nature of both the glycoside and the aglycone moiety was thus obtained. Glycosidic cleavage and ring cleavages of both aglycone and sugar moieties were the major fragmentation pathways observed during CID, where the losses of small molecules, the cinnamoyl and the cinnamate parts were also observed. The formation of the ionized aglycones, sugars and their product ions was thus obtained giving information on their basic skeleton. The protonated, i.e. [M+H]+ and deprotonated [M--H]-, ions were found to fragment mainly by glycosidic cleavages. MS/MS spectra of the [M+Na]+ ions gave complementary information for the structural characterization of the studied compounds. Unlike the dissociation of protonated molecular ions, that of sodiated molecules also provided sodiated sugar fragments where the C0+ fragment corresponding to the glucose ion was obtained as base peak for all the studied compounds.     

Electrospray collision-induced dissociation of testosterone and testosterone hydroxy analogs

Complications with the gas chromatographic analysis of steroids prompted the use of alternative techniques for their identification. High-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure ionization allowed the collection of data for structural identification of these compounds. The objective of this study was to investigate the up-front collision-induced dissociation (UFCID) electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of testosterone and monohydroxylated testosterones. The positive ion UFCID ESI mass spectrum of testosterone showed three significant ions at m/z 97, 109 and 123. The relative abundance of these ions in the UFCID ESI mass spectra of monohydroxylated testosterones varied with the position of the hydroxy group. Statistical data allowed the prediction of hydroxy group position on testosterone by evaluation of the relative abundance of the m/z 97, 109, 121 and 123 ions. Data from the ESI mass spectral analysis of testosterone in a deuterated solvent and from the analysis of cholestenone and 4-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol indicated that the initial ionization of testosterone occurred at the 3-one position. CID parent ion monitoring analyses of the m/z 97, 109 and 123 ions indicated that each resulted from different fragmentation mechanisms and originated directly from the [M + H]+ parent ion. The elemental composition of these fragment ions is proposed based on evidence gathered from the CID analysis of the pseudo-molecular ions of [1,2-2H2]-, [2,2,4,6,6-2H5]-, [6,7-2H2]-, [7-2H]-, [19,19,19-2H3]- and [3,4-13C2]testosterone. The structure and a possible mechanism of formation of the m/z 109 and 123 ions is presented. The results of this study advance the understanding of the mechanisms of collision-induced fragmentation of ions.     

Structural assignment of isomeric 2-(2-quinolinyl)-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione mono- and disulfonic acids by liquid chromatography electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Positionally isomeric 2-(2-quinolinyl)-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione mono- and disulfonic acids give rise to similar electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmosphere pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectra, which show very abundant MH(+) ions and negligible fragmentation. The MH(+) ions of these isomeric acids exhibit notably different behavior under collision-induced dissociation (CID) conditions. The acids with a sulfonic group at position 8' in the quinoline moiety, adjacent to the N-atom, exhibit highly abundant [MH - H(2)SO(3)](+) ions (m/z 272 for the mono- and m/z 352 for the disulfonic acids), which are of lower abundance in the CID spectra of isomers with the SO(3)H group at other positions, remote from the nitrogen atom. The latter isomers undergo efficient eliminations of SO(3) and HSO(3). The isomeric diacids with one SO(3)H group at position 4 of the indene-1,3(2H)-dione moiety, adjacent to one of the carbonyl groups, undergo highly efficient elimination of H(2)O. Mechanistic pathways, involving interactions between adjacent groups, are proposed for the above regiospecific fragmentations. Pronounced different behavior has been also observed in negative ion tandem mass spectrometric measurements of the sulfonic acids. The distinctive behavior of the isomeric acids was strongly pronounced when the measurements were performed with an ion trap mass spectrometer (LCQ), and much less so with a triple-stage quadrupole instrument (TSQ).     

Effect of phenylalanine on the fragmentation of deprotonated peptides

The fragmentation reactions of a variety of deprotonated dipeptides and tripeptides containing phenylalanine have been studied using energy-resolved collision-induced dissociation, isotopic labeling and MS/MS/MS experiments. The benzyl a-group has a substantial effect on the fragmentation reactions observed. When the phenylalanine is in the C-terminal position of dipeptides or tripeptides a major fragmentation reaction is elimination of neutral cinnamic acid to from a deprotonated amino acid amide (c1 ion) for dipeptides and a deprotonated dipeptide amide (c2 ion) for tripeptides. Fragmentation of the [M - H]- ions of tripeptides with phenylalanine in the central position also results in substantial formation of the deprotonated amide of the N-terminal amino acid residue. When the phenylalanine residue is in the N-terminal position elimination of C7H8 from the [M - H - CO2]- ion and formation of the benzyl anion become important fragmentation pathways. Sequence ions frequently observed are the y1 ions, "b2 ions and a3-Nt ions.     

An investigation of the homolytic saccharide cleavage of deprotonated flavonol 3-O-glycosides in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer

The trend in the extent of homolytic saccharide cleavage is reported for a series of deprotonated flavonol 3-O-glycosides upon collision-induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The second-generation product ions from the primary [Y(0)](-) and [Y(0)- H](-.) product ions were also identified. It was determined that the structure of both the aglycon and the saccharide portions of the flavonoid glycoside are pivotal in inducing radical cleavage. In contrast to earlier work on this subject reported for a smaller group of flavonols, the correlation between the degree of B-ring hydroxylation and the extent of radical saccharide cleavage showed several notable exceptions in the present work. Homolytic cleavage was also investigated in the context of using tandem mass spectrometry to identify the aglycon portions of flavonoid glycosides.     

A study of characteristic fragmentation of isoflavonoids by using negative ion ESI-MSn

Isoflavone mono‐O‐glycosides were investigated by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with a quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer in negative ion mode. Isoflavonoids having different positions of glycosylation or methylation were differentiated according to the relative abundances of Y₀^? and [Y₀? H]^?? ions generated from the [M ? H]^? ion. It is found that the site of glycosyl or methyl group significantly affects relative abundances of the Y₀^? and [Y₀? H]^?? ions. In addition, the characteristic ion [Y₀? 2H]^? was observed in the product ion spectrum of genistein 7‐O‐β‐D ‐glucoside and was also detected, together with the [Y₀? CH₃]^?? and [Y₀? H ? CH₃]^? ions in the product ion spectra of glycitin and 6‐methoxy genistein 7‐O‐β‐D ‐glucoside. The structures of isoflavonoids can be characterized and identified according to the formation of these diagnostic ions. The results obtained from this investigation can promote the rapid identification of isoflavonoids in crude plant extracts. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of inositol phosphorylceramides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leishmania major</Emphasis> by tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization

We describe tandem mass spectrometric approaches, including multiple stage ion-trap and source collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) to characterize inositol phosphorylceramide (IPC) species seen as [M - H](-) and [M - 2H + Li](-) ions in the negative-ion mode as well as [M + H](+), [M + Li](+), and [M - H + 2Li](+) ions in the positive-ion mode. Following CAD in an ion-trap or a triple-stage quadrupole instrument, the [M - H](-) ions of IPC yielded fragment ions reflecting only the inositol and the fatty acyl substituent of the molecule. In contrast, the mass spectra from MS(3) of [M - H - Inositol](-) ions contained abundant ions that are readily applicable for assignment of the fatty acid and long-chain base (LCB) moieties. Both the product-ion spectra from MS(2) and MS(3) of the [M - 2H + Alk](-), [M + H](+), [M + Alk](+), and [M - H + 2Alk](+) ions also contained rich fragment ions informative for unambiguous assignment of the fatty acyl substituent and the LCB. However, the sensitivity of the ions observed in the forms of [M - 2H + Alk](-), [M + H](+), [M + Alk](+), and [M - H + 2Alk](+) (Alk = Li, Na) is nearly 10 times less than that observed in the [M - H](-) form. In addition to the major fragmentation pathways leading to elimination of the inositol or inositol monophosphate moiety, several structurally informative ions resulting from rearrangement processes were observed. The fragmentation processes are similar to those previously reported for ceramides. While the tandem mass spectrometric approach using MS(n) (n = 2, 3) permits the structures of the Leishmania major IPCs consisting of two isomeric structures to be unveiled in detail, tandem mass spectra from constant neutral loss scans may provide a simple method for detecting IPC in mixtures.