Investigation of amodiaquine bulk drug impurities by liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry

Three unknown impurities in an amodiaquine bulk drug sample were detected by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC/UV). A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS(n)) method is described for the investigation of these impurities. Mass spectral data were acquired on an LCQ ion trap mass analyzer equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source operated in positive ion mode. The fragmentation behavior of amodiaquine and its impurities has been studied. Based on the mass spectral data and the specifics of the synthetic route, the possible structures of these impurities were elucidated as 4-[(5-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino]-2-(diethylaminomethyl)phenol (impurity I), 4-[(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)-amino]phenol (impurity II) and 4-[(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino]-2-(diethylaminomethyl)-N(1)-oxy]phenol (impurity III). The structures were confirmed by their independent synthesis and NMR spectral assignment.     

Isolation and characterization of degradation products of citalopram and process-related impurities using RP-HPLC

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous separation and determination of citalopram hydrobromide and its process impurities in bulk drugs and pharmaceutical formulations was developed. The separation was accomplished on an Inertsil ODS 3V (250x4.6 mm; particle size 5 mum) column using 0.3% diethylamine (pH = 4.70) and methanol/acetonitrile (55:45 v/v) as mobile phase in a gradient elution mode. The eluents were monitored by a photodiode array detector set at 225 nm. The chromatographic behavior of all the related substances was examined under variable conditions of different solvents, buffer concentrations, and pH. The method was validated in terms of accuracy, precision, and linearity. The method could be of use not only for rapid and routine evaluation of the quality of citalopram in bulk drug manufacturing units but also for the detection of its impurities in pharmaceutical formulations. Three unknown impurities were consistently observed during the analysis of different batches of citalopram. Forced degradation of citalopram was carried out under thermal, photo, acidic, alkaline, and peroxide conditions. The degradation products and unknown impurities were isolated and characterized by ESI-MS/MS, (1)H NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopy.     

Two new compounds from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllanthus niruri</Emphasis>

Three compounds were isolated from Phyllanthus niruri Linn. One effective method, improved dry column liquid chromatography for isolating these compounds, was applied on a silica gel column. It is a combination of conventional dry column chromatographic and flash chromatographic techniques. Structures of those obtained compounds were elucidated by means of spectral techniques including IR, MS, and 1D NMR and 2D NMR. Compound 1 was elucidated as 2,3,5,6-tetrahydroxybenzyl acetate. Compound 2 , 2,4,5-trihydroxy-3-(4,6,7-trihydroxy-3-oxo-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-5-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester, was given the name phyllangin, and compound 3 was named corilagin. Compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds.Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 380–382, September–October, 2004.     

Identification and structural elucidation of two process impurities and stress degradants in darifenacin hydrobromide active pharmaceutical ingredient by LC-ESI/MS(n)

The present study describes the identification and characterization of two process impurities and major stress degradants in darifenacin hydrobromide using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Forced degradation studies confirmed that the drug substance was stable under acidic, alkaline, aqueous hydrolysis, thermal and photolytic conditions and susceptible only to oxidative degradation. Impurities were identified using liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS(n)). Proposed structures were unambiguously confirmed by synthesis followed by characterization using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and elemental analysis (EA). Based on the spectroscopic, spectrometric and elemental analysis data, the unknown impurities were characterized as 2-{1-[2-(2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-yl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-pyrrolidin-3-yl}-2,2-diphenylacetamide (Imp-A), 2-[1-(2-benzofuran-5-yl-ethyl)-pyrrolidin-3-yl]-2,2-diphenylacetamide (Imp-B), 2-{1-[2-(2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-yl)-ethyl]-1-oxy-pyrrolidin-3-yl}-2,2-diphenylacetamide (Imp-C) and 2-{1-[2-(7-bromo-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-yl)-ethyl]-pyrrolidin-3-yl}-2,2-diphenylacetamide (Imp-D). Plausible mechanisms for the formation and control of these impurities have also been proposed. The method was validated as per regulatory guidelines to demonstrate specificity, sensitivity, linearity, precision, accuracy and the stability-indicating nature. Regression analysis showed a correlation coefficient value greater than 0.99 for darifenacin hydrobromide and its impurities. The accuracy of the method was established based on the recovery obtained between 86.6 and 106.7% for all impurities.     

Thermal degradation mechanism for citalopram and escitalopram

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Citalopram, [(R,S)-1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-5-carbonitrile] hydrobromide and its S-isomer, escitalopram...     

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.     

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.     

高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱法快速鉴定硝苯地平原料药中杂质

利用高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱法(HPLC-QTOF MS)对硝苯地平原料药的4种杂质进行了在线的质谱分析。色谱柱为Kromasil C18(250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm),流动相为甲醇-水(60:40, v/v),检测波长为235 nm。通过紫外检测器和四极杆飞行时间质谱仪在线检测,分离并检测了硝苯地平及其杂质,获得了它们的紫外光谱和质谱数据;通过比较加合质子的硝苯地平和杂质的准分子离子的碎裂特征,直接推断出了3个杂质可能的结构,其中1个为未知杂质;采用与对照品保留时间和质谱数据的比对,确定了另外1个杂质的结构。实验表明,HPLC-QTOF MS可以快速鉴定硝苯地平中杂质的化学成分。     

A chromatography-mass spectrometry study of aquatic chlorination of UV-filter avobenzone

We studied the reactions of 4-tert-butyl-4′-methoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone), the most common UV filter in formulations of sunscreens, under the conditions of disinfection. Three chlorinated compounds were identified as the main products. Their structures were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS²) with accurate mass measurements and by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). It was reliably proved, that the substitution involved the double bond of the enolic form of the diketone, rather than the activated aromatic ring, leading to the formation of 2-chloro-1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanedione and 2,2-dichloro-1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanedione as the main products. The third identified product was 2-chloro-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone.     

Liquid chromatography multi-stage mass spectrometry for the analysis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in foods

A new, simple and selective method for the analysis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in foods by liquid chromatography coupled to ion trap multi-stage mass spectrometry (LC-MS(n)) is proposed in the present study. Several chromatographic columns were tested and the best results were obtained using a phenyl fluorinated column. MS conditions were established using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) source in the positive ionisation mode. MS/MS was used for quantitative analysis while MS(3) was required for confirmation purposes. Quality parameters such as day-to-day and run-to-run precision (RSD<10%) and detection limit (133 ng g(-1), 333 pg injected) were established. This method was successfully applied to the analysis of HMF content in several Spanish food samples from a local market.     

The intriguing case of organic impurities contained in synthetic methanol: a mass spectrometry based investigation

The role of organic impurities in the methanol-to-olefin (MTO) industrial process catalyzed by zeolites is the subject of ongoing debate. We have found that methanol (HPLC and RPE grade) purchased from different chemical companies may contain organic impurities, whose ionization is the dominant process in the positive ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) spectrum of commercial CH(3)OH. Such impurities produce ions with elemental formulae C(n)H(2n+1)O(+) (n = 4, 5, 6); likewise, ionization of tetradeuterated methanol (CD(3)OD) leads to the corresponding fully deuterated series C(n)D(2n+1)O(+) (n = 4, 5, 6), an outcome which represents a clear evidence of their widespread diffusion. We suggest that their formation might be inherent to the chemical process whereby methanol is synthesized on an industrial scale. Mass spectrometry (MS) experiments, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements allowed us to establish that commercial methanol contains dimethyl acetals of simple alkyl ketones, such as propanone, butanone and pentanone. Ab initio calculations (DFT/B3LYP) proved useful to understanding the ionization mechanisms of such impurities.     

Simultaneous determination of benzydamine hydrochloride and five impurities in an oral collutory as a pharmaceutical formulation by high-performance liquid chromatography

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of benzydamine hydrochloride and its impurities 3-dimethylaminopropyl 2-benzylaminobenzoate, 3-dimethylaminopropyl-2-aminobenzoate,1-benzyl-1H-indazol-3-ol, 1-benzyl-2-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-1,2-dihydro-3H-indazol-3-one, and 1-benzyl-3-(3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-methylamino)propoxy-(1)H-indazole in a collutory formulation is developed. The separation is carried out on a Gemini C(18) (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column using acetonitrile-methanol-ammonium carbonate buffer (10 mM; pH 10.5) (37.5:37.5:25, v/v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, column temperature 30°C, and UV detection at 218 nm. Famotidine is used as an internal standard. The total run-time is less than 15 min. The analytical curves present coefficients of correlation greater than 0.99, and detection limits are calculated for all analytes. Excellent accuracy and precision are obtained for benzydamine hydrochloride. Recoveries vary from 98.25 to 102.8%, and intra- and inter-day precisions, calculated as the percent relative standard deviation, are lower than 2.2%. Specificity and robustness for benzydamine hydrochloride are also determined. The method allows the quantitative determination of benzydamine hydrochloride and its impurities, and it is suitable for routine analysis in quality control laboratories.     

Separation, characterization, and quantitation of process-related substances of the anti-hypertensive drug doxazosin mesylate by reversed-phase LC with PDA and ESI-MS as detectors

A simple and rapid reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) method with photodiode array (PDA) and electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometry (MS) as detectors was developed and validated to separate, identify, and quantitate the related substances of Doxazosin mesylate (DXZN) for monitoring the reactions involved during process development. The high-performance liquid chromatography profiles of related-substances of DXZN are used as fingerprints to follow the procedures used in the manufacturing units. The separation is accomplished on an Inertsil ODS-3 column with acetonitrile-ammonium acetate (10 mM, pH 4.0) as the mobile phase, using a gradient elution mode and monitoring the eluents by a photodiode array detector at 265 nm at ambient temperature. LC-ESI-MS-MS is used to identify the additional impurities formed during the synthesis. The identified impurities were synthesized and characterized by UV, Fourier transform-IR, 1H NMR, and MS data. The detection limits for the impurities are 0.74 - 4.14 x 10(-9) g, and the method is found to be suitable not only for the monitoring of synthetic reactions, but also for quality assurance of DXZN in bulk drugs and formulations.     

Identification,characterization, and high‐performance liquid chromatography quantification of process‐related impurities in vonoprazan fumarate

High‐performance liquid chromatography analysis of vonoprazan fumarate, a novel proton pump inhibitor drug revealed six impurities. These were identified by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Further, the structures of the impurities were confirmed by synthesis followed by characterization by mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. On the basis of these data and knowledge of the synthetic scheme of vonoprazan fumarate, the previously unknown impurity was identified as 1‐[5‐(2‐fluorophenyl)‐1‐(pyridin‐3‐ylsulfonyl)‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl]‐N‐methyldimethylamine, which is a new compound. The possible mechanisms by which these impurities were formed were also discussed. A high‐performance liquid chromatography method was optimized in order to separate, selectively detect, and quantify all process‐related impurities of vonoprazan fumarate. The presented method has been validated in terms of linearity, limits of detection, and quantification, and response factors and, therefore, is highly suitable for routine analysis of vonoprazan fumarate related substances as well as stability studies.     

荧光衍生化试剂2-(4-羧基苯基)-4,5-萘并咪唑的合成及在HPLC测定醇类中的应用

 合成了一种用于醇类分析的高灵敏度的荧光衍生化试 剂2-(4-羧基苯基)-4,5-萘并咪唑(CNI),将其在二氯甲烷中于80 ℃条件下与醇缩合成酯 ,并采用RP-HPLC法进行分离检测,色谱柱为Zorbax Bp C8柱(250　mm×4.6　mm i.d.) ,流动 相为V(乙腈)∶V(甲醇)=90∶10的溶液,荧光检测波长λex 345 nm, λem 485　nm。同时,测定了人血清中的胆固醇,其最低检出质量浓度为1.0 μg /L。     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定吉非替尼中4种基因毒性杂质

建立了一种同时测定吉非替尼中4种基因毒性杂质3-氯-4-氟苯胺、3,4-二氟苯胺、3-氟-4-氯苯胺和3,4-二氯苯胺的高效液相色谱-串联质谱（HPLC-MS/MS）方法。用Inertsil ODS-3柱（100 mm×3.0 mm,3μm）为色谱柱,以0.1%（体积分数,下同）甲酸水溶液-0.1%甲酸乙腈溶液为流动相,在电喷雾正离子模式下进行测定。该方法在特异性、线性、精密度、准确性、稳定性和耐用性方面得到了验证。4种基因毒性杂质在0.6~96.0μg/L范围内与峰面积呈良好线性关系。检测限和定量限分别为0.2~2.0μg/L和0.6~6.0μg/L。所有杂质的回收率为91.0%~98.5%。检测后,在批号16052301和R16052501-1样品中仅检测到3-氯-4-氟苯胺,但低于杂质限度（6 mg/L）。该方法简便可靠,可用于吉非替尼中4种基因毒性杂质的测定,并为质量控制提供参考。     

高效液相色谱-离子阱-飞行时间质谱法鉴定碱性嫩黄中的杂质及高效液相色谱法制备碱性嫩黄标准物质

该文建立了一种高效液相色谱-离子阱-飞行时间质谱（HPLC-IT-TOF-MS）分析非法食品添加剂碱性嫩黄样品中杂质成分的方法。对碱性嫩黄样品中的杂质进行多级质谱分析,根据各碎片离子的精确质量数推测出该杂质的具体组成,确定这个杂质为4-（亚氨基（4-（甲基氨基）苯基）甲基）-N,N-二甲基苯胺盐酸盐,从而推断出碱性嫩黄的合成方法及杂质的可能来源。同时建立了制备碱性嫩黄标准物质的方法,分别选用了粒径为10μm和5μm的制备液相色谱柱进行两次制备高效液相色谱分离纯化,进样量分别为1 mL和500μL,最终采用分析型高效液相色谱峰面积归一化法得到纯度为99.52%的碱性嫩黄标准物质。扣除0.34%水分含量,0.13%灰分含量,采用质量平衡法确定制备的物质最终纯度为99.05%,并通过UV、IR、LC-MS和NMR四大谱图进行化学结构的确认。该方法简单、高效,可拓展应用于其他非法食品添加剂标准物质的制备。     

Capillary liquid chromatography with MS3 for the determination of enkephalins in microdialysis samples from the striatum of anesthetized and freely-moving rats

In vivo microdialysis sampling was coupled to capillary liquid chromatography (LC)/electrospray ionization quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry (MS) to monitor [Met]enkephalin and [Leu]enkephalin in the striatum of anesthetized and freely-moving rats. The LC system utilized a high-pressure pump to load 2.5 microl samples and desalt the 25 microm i.d. by 2 cm long column in 12 min. Samples were eluted with a separate pump at approximately 100 nl min(-1). A rapid gradient effectively separated the endogenous neuropeptides in 4 min. A comparison was made for operating the mass spectrometer in the MS2 and MS3 modes for detection of the peptides. In standard solutions, the detection limits were similar at 1-2 pM (2-4 amol injected); however, the reproducibility was improved with MS3 as the relative standard deviation was <5% compared with 20% for MS2 for 60 pM samples. For dialysate solutions, reconstructed ion chromatograms and tandem mass spectra had much higher signal-to-noise ratios in the MS3 mode, resulting in more confident detection at in vivo concentrations. The method was successfully used to monitor the peptides under basal conditions and with stimulation of peptide secretion by infusion of elevated K+ concentration.     

Differentiation of estriol glucuronide isomers by chemical derivatization and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

This paper describes a way of differentiating between the three isomers of estriol glucuronide by the use of chemical derivatization and liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). In their native form, these isomers gave rise to almost identical product ion spectra, involving the neutral loss of 176 Da (i.e. monodehydrated glucuronic acid), which made it impossible to determine the position of conjugation by MS/MS alone. In order to change the fragmentation pathways, positive charges were introduced into the analytes by chemical derivatization. The following reagents were tested: 2-chloro-1-methylpyridinium iodide, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide and 2-picolylamine. Interestingly, derivatization using a combination of all three reagents gave a selective fragmentation pattern that could differentiate between the isomers estriol-16-glucuronide and estriol-17-glucuronide. Estriol-3-glucuronide, which lacks a free phenolic group, could be differentiated through a different type of reaction product when exposed to 2-chloro-1-methylpyridinium iodide. Furthermore, in order to assist structural assignment of the fragments, their accurate masses were determined using a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer and fragmentation pathways were elucidated by the use of MS3 on an ion trap mass spectrometer.     

Amnesic shellfish poisoning toxins in shellfish: estimation of uncertainty of measurement for a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method

A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method for amnesic shellfish poisoning toxins in shellfish was developed and validated. Tissue homogenate (4 g) was extracted with 16 mL methanol-water (1 + 1, v/v). Dilution into acetonitrile-water (1 + 9, v/v) was followed by C18 solid-phase extraction cleanup. Domoic acid (DA) and epi-domoic acid were determined by LC/MS/MS with electrospray ionization and multiple reaction monitoring. External calibration was performed with dilutions of a certified reference standard. Advantages of this method include speed, lower detection limits, and a very high degree of specificity. The LC/MS response was highly linear, and there were no significant interferences to the determination of DA. Formal method validation was performed on 4 shellfish species. Fortification studies gave recoveries (mean +/- SD; n = 24) of 93 +/- 14% at 1 mg/kg, and 93.3 +/- 7.6% at 20 mg/kg over all the species. Analysis of a mussel certified reference material showed the bias as < 5%. The limits of detection and quantitation were 0.15 and 0.5 mg/kg, respectively. Routine application of the method over 4 months gave a recovery for the QC sample (1 mg/kg fortified blank mussel homogenate) run with each batch of 88.9 +/- 5.5% (mean +/- SD; n = 37). The total uncertainty of measurement results were estimated as 0.12 (12%) at 0.25-5 mg/kg and 0.079 (7.9%) at 5-50 mg/kg. The major contribution to the uncertainty was the repeatability of the LC/MS determination, probably arising from subtle matrix effects.