Evaluation of eluents in thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for identification and determination of pesticides in environmental samples.

The influence of different eluents in positive and negative ion mode thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was studied with several groups of pesticides, including carbamates, chlorotriazines, phenylureas, phenoxy acids and organophosphorus and quaternary ammonium compounds, and the corresponding degradation products. Using the positive ion mode in combination with reversed-phase eluents the base peaks generally corresponded either to [M + H]+ for the chlorotriazines and their hydroxy metabolites or to [M + NH4]+ for the carbamates, the phenylureas, the organophosphorus pesticides and their oxygen analogues. In the negative ion mode different processes such as (dissociative) electron-capture and anion attachment mechanisms occurred. Fragment ions such as [M - CONHCH3]- for the carbamates, [M - H]- for the chlorotriazines, phenylureas and chlorinated phenoxy acids and [M].-, [M - R]- (R being a methyl or ethyl group) for organophosphorus pesticides were usually formed. Depending on the eluent additive used (ammonium acetate, ammonium formate and/or chloroacetonitrile), three different adduct ions were formed: [M + CH3COO]-, [M + HCOO]- and [M + Cl]-. Normal-phase eluents with cyclohexane, n-hexane and/or dichloromethane provided more structural information and enhanced the response of several compounds. The positive ion mode was useful for the detection of chlorinated phenoxy acids and chlorophenols which could not be detected in the positive ion mode using reversed-phase systems. The base peaks generally corresponded to [M].+, [M + H]+ or [M - Cl]+. For the characterization of difenzoquat, a quaternary ammonium pesticide of which trace level analysis is troublesome, a post-column ion-pair extraction system was used. An aqueous mobile phase with a sulphonate-type counter ion was applied and an extraction solvent containing cyclohexane-dichloromethane-n-butanol (45:45:10) was used in thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Illustrative examples of the determination of residue levels of pesticides in soil matrices are shown.     

Confirmation of chlorotriazine pesticides,their degradation products and organophosphorus pesticides in soil samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with electron impact and positive- and negative-ion chemical ionization

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with electron impact (EI), positive-ion chemical ionization (PCI) and negative-ion chemical ionization (NCI) were applied as confirmatory techniques for residue analysis of chlorotriazine pesticides, their degradation products and organophosphorus pesticides in soil samples. Clean-up was effected using a Florisil column with subsequent analysis by GC with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. GC-MS with the EI mode of operation is the common mode of confirmation for all the pesticides. Further confirmation by either GC-MS with PCI and NCI for chlorotriazines and organophosphorus pesticides, respectively, is recommended. The method was applied to the determination of residue levels of atrazine, deethylatrazine, deisopropylatrazine, simazine, fenitrothion and tetrachlorvinphos in several soil samples at levels from 5 ng g^?1 to 9 μg g^?1.     

Mass spectral fragmentation pathways of N-acetylnitramines: 1-acetylhexahydro-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine and 1-acetyloctahydro-3,5,7-trinitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine

Mass spectra of the N-acetylnitramines l-acetylhexahydro-3,5-dinitro-l,3,5-triazine (TAX) and 1-acetyloctahydro-3,5,7-trinitro-l,3,5,7-tetrazocine (SEX) were recorded in electron impact (EI) and positive and negative chemical ionization (PCI and NCI) modes, and the fragmentation pathways were compared with those of other nitramines which have been well documented and characterized. Unexpectedly, for both acetylnitramines in the EI mode (and in the PCI mode) proton adducts were the only molecular ion species observed; in neither mode was there evidence for higher adducts. In contrast, for TAX in the NCI mode the [M + NO₂]^? adduct was the second most abundant ion (70%); relatively small amounts of the [M + NO]^? adduct (2%) and the hydrogen adduct [MH]^? (3%) were observed. Under identical NCI conditions no molecular ion species or adduct ions were detected for SEX; the ion of highest m/z corresponded to loss of NO₂ or HNO₂ from a molecular ion species. The findings of collision-induced dissociation experiments are also discussed.     

[M + 11]+˙ and [M + 11]−˙ ions in the nitrogen positive and negative ion chemical ionization mass spectra of aromatic amines

The N₂ negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) mass spectra of aniline, aminonaphthalenes, aminobiphenyls and aminoanthracenes show an unexpected addition appearing at [M + 11]^?˙. This addition is also observed in the N₂ positive chemical ionization (PCI) mass spectra. An ion at [M – 15]^? is found in the NICI spectra of aminoaromatics such as aniline, 1- and 2-aminonaphthalene and 1- and 2-aminoanthracene. Ion formation was studied using labeled reagents, variation of ion source pressure and temperature and examination of ion chromatograms. These experiments indicate that the [M + 11]^?˙, [M – 15]^?˙ and [M + 11]^+˙ ions result from the ionization of analytes altered by surface-assisted reactions. Experiments with ¹⁵N₂, [¹⁵N] aniline, [2,3,4,5,6-²H₅] aniline and [¹³C₆] aniline show that the [M + 11]^?˙ ion corresponds to [M + N – 3H]^?˙. The added nitrogen originates from the N₂ buffer gas and the addition occurs with loss of one ring and two amino group hydrogens. Fragmentation patterns in the N₂ PCI mass spectrum of aniline suggest that the neutral product of the surface-assisted reaction is 1,4-dicyanobuta-1,3-diene. Experiments with diamino-substituted aromatics show analogous reactions resulting in the formation of [M – 4H]^?˙ ions for aromatics with ortho-amino groups. Experiments with methylsubstituted aminoaromatics indicate that unsubstituted sites ortho to the amino group facilitate nitrogen addition, and that methyl groups provide additional sites for nitrogen addition.     

基于氧化石墨烯气凝胶固相萃取柱检测有机磷农药北大核心CSCD

以氧化石墨烯气凝胶三维纳米材料作为固相萃取的吸附剂,结合高效液相色谱,对食品中的有机磷农药(辛硫磷、双硫磷、倍硫磷、杀螟硫磷)进行检测分析。首先,利用冷冻干燥的方式制备得到氧化石墨烯气凝胶,通过扫描电镜、红外光谱、比表面积吸附等一系列的实验手段对其形貌及物理特性进行了表征,证明其成功合成。从扫描电镜中可见石墨烯的层状褶皱结构,其表面积为740.51 m^(2)/g。然后,将氧化石墨烯气凝胶直接填充于固相萃取柱中,在未借助任何硅胶等基体的条件下进行萃取研究;通过单因素实验,系统研究了萃取和洗脱条件对有机磷农药萃取回收率的影响。结果显示,在上样体积15 mL、样品溶液pH值4、上样速率1.0 mL/min、洗脱剂1.0 mL乙腈的条件下萃取回收率最高。与商用的萃取材料进行比较,包括碳十八硅胶柱(C18)、阴离子交换柱(SAX)、氨基柱(-NH_(2))和硅酸镁柱(Florisil),氧化石墨烯气凝胶填充的固相萃取柱的萃取回收率有明显提高。实验考察了氧化石墨烯气凝胶直接填充的萃取柱的寿命,结果显示该萃取柱可以重复使用15次,可见解决了分散无基体支撑的石墨烯纳米片容易破碎、堵塞筛板的问题。与液相色谱联用建立分析方法,4种有机磷农药的线性范围较宽,辛硫磷、双硫磷和倍硫磷的线性范围为1~200μg/L,杀螟硫磷的线性范围为2~200μg/L,线性拟合良好(线性相关系数r^(2)≥0.9949),检出限为0.2~0.5μg/L,满足于我国和其他国家限定标准的检测。将该方法应用于实际样品,在苹果皮中未检测到有机磷农药,对其进行加标,回收率为70.5%~93.6%,相对标准偏差≤10.4%。     

高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测/质谱法分析生脉饮煎剂中的人参皂甙类成分

采用高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测/质谱（HPLC-DAD/MS）联用技术,以10 mmol/L醋酸铵和乙腈混合溶液梯度洗脱 系统为流动相,应用C18色谱柱对生脉饮煎剂中人参皂甙类成分进行分离鉴定。分析结果表明:生脉饮煎剂中主要含有17个 人参皂甙类成分,即20(R)-人参皂甙Rh1、Rh2、Rg3、Rg2,20(S)-人参皂甙Rh1、Rh2、Rg3、Rg2,人参皂甙Rf、Rg6、Rg5 、F4、Rk1、Rk3、Rh4,20(S)-和20(R)-原人参三醇。人参皂甙成分在煎煮过程中发生了很大变化,主要变成了一些中低 极性产物,这是因为煎煮过程中发生了水解、差向异构、脱水等反应。该方法简便、精确、灵敏度高,可以用来分析生脉 饮煎剂中人参皂甙的变化。     

On-line continuous-flow extraction system in liqud chromatography with ultraviolet and mass spectrometric detection for the determination of selected organic pollutants

An on-line extraction system with completely continuous-flow analysis prior to the liquid chromatographic (LC) column was used for the determination of the organophosphorus pesticides tetrachlorvinphos and parathion-methyl and their degradation products 2,4,5-trichlorophenol and 4-nitrophenol, respectively, and the chlorinated phenoxy acids 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T and silvex in water samples. The extent of extraction varied from 100% for chlorinated phenoxy acids to 60% for organophosphorus pesticides and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol. The extraction of 4-nitrophenol was less than 10% under these conditions. By employing positive-ion mode thermospray LC-mass spectrometry, the characterization of tetrachlorvinphos was feasible, indicating [M + NH₄]⁺ as the base peak and a second peak with 20% relative intensity corresponding to [M + H]⁺. When the negative-ion mode was used, the chlorinated phenoxy acids and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol exhibited [M + HCOO]^? as the base peak and a second peak with 30% relative intensity corresponding to [M ? H]^?. The determination of 1 mg l^?1 of tetrachlorvinphos spiked in a surface water sample is reported.     

二烷氧基膦酰乙酸酯的电子轰击正离子和化学电离负离子质谱研究

本文报道一系列二烷氧基膦酰乙酸酯的电子轰击(EI)正离子和甲烷化学电离负离子(NCI)质谱.在EI谱上出现特征的[M+H]^+离子,进一步发生氢重排,然后失去烯烃,再失水和脱CH2CO.而在NCI谱中则生成[M-H]^-离子(基峰),易失去烷基,再失烷氧基和CH2CO,或氢重排后脱烯烃.正、负离子的断裂机理不同,但数据可以互相补充,以利于类似未知物的结构分析.     

Fragmentation reactions of some aliphatic esters in the NCl(F−) and NCl(NH2−) mass spectra

The NCI(F^?) and NCI(NH₂^?) mass spectra of a series of aliphatic acetates and of methyl and ethyl trimethylacetate have been obtained. The formation of fluoroenolate ions CH₂COF^? and of carboxamide anions RCONH^? (R ? CH₃))CH₃C). respectively, is observed besides formation of [M ? H]^? ions and carboxylate ions RCOO^? (R ? CH₃, (CH₃)₃C). The relative intensities of the different anions depend on the structure of the ester molecules and on the primary reactant anions. Usually, the NCI(NH₂^?) spectra of the acetates are dominated by [M ? H]^? ions ([M? D]^? ions in the case of trideuteroacetates) fragmenting unimolecularly by elimination of an alcohol. The carboxylate ions are important fragments, too, but carboxamide ions are only observed with large intensities in the NCI(NH₂^? spectra of the trimethylacetates. The NCI(F^?) spectra show much larger intensities of carboxylate ions and fluoroenolate ions. The mechanisms of the fragmentation reactions are discussed. The results indicate that most or even all of the fragment ions in the NCI(F^? mass spectra of aliphatic esters are formed by addition-elimination reactions via a tetrahedral intermediate, while competition between direct proton abstraction and addition-elimination reactions occurs in the NCI(NH₂^?) mass spectra because of the higher basicity of NH₂^? resulting in an early transition state for direct proton abstraction.     

Dinuclear azolato-bridged complexes of the nickel group metals with haloaryl ligands: a reinvestigation of their behavior in solution

A reinvestigation of the NMR spectra of the complexes (NBu4)2[M2(mu-LL)2R4] (M = Pd, Ni, Pt, LL = pyrazolate (pz), 3,5-dimethylpyrazolate (dmpz), 3-methylpyrazolate (mpz), indazolate (indz), R = C6F5; M = Pd, LL = pz, dmpz, mpz, indz, R = 2,4,6-C6F3H2) shows that the boat-shaped dimeric structures of their anions are quite stable in solution, and the previously proposed fast equilibria or dissociations to give species such as [R2M(N-N)(acetone)]-, [R2M(acetone)2] + 2dmpz-, or [R2M(N1-N2)(acetone)]- + [R2M(N2-N1)(acetone)]- in no case occur. A mixture of the two diastereoisomers (head-to-head, HH, and head-to-tail, HT) is present for the asymmetrically substituted azolates (mpz and indz), in a ratio ranging from 1:7 to 1:30 for the different complexes. Strong through-space coupling between the endo ortho fluorine nuclei of different MR2 fragments is observed in the 19F NMR spectra of these diastereoisomers whose boatlike structures place these atoms at short distances.     

Interlaboratory comparison of limits of detectic in negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Data are presented on the limits of detection for a series of nine compounds in negative chemical ionization (NCI) mass spectra obtained in five different mass spectrometers: Finnigan 4000 with a 4500 ion source, Kratos MS-80, Hewlett-Packard 5985 and two Finnigan 4500s. The nine compounds undergo either resonance capture or dissociative capture of an electron at optimum energies ranging from 0.0 to 1.1 eV. The limits of detection generally increased with increasing optimum electron energy. The limit of detection as a function of optimum electron capture energy is expected to provide information about the electron energy distribution in the ion sources. The data showed scatter within and between instruments. The scatter is believed to be due primarily to reactions with low levels of adventitious gases such as oxygen in the ion source. The data also suggested wide variations in electron energies between the instruments. The variation in the electron energy distribution is thought to have been caused by variations in the ion optical fields within the instruments. These results suggest that the requirements for reproducibility in NCI mass spectra at the limit of detection are rigorous control of trace gases in the ion source, control of the electric fields within the source including ion optical fields that penetrate the source aperture control of pressure, temperature and other factors that influence NCI mass spectra.     

Rapid analysis of proteins and peptides by reversed-phase chromatography with polymeric micropellicular sorbents

Peptides and proteins were separated by reversed-phase chromatography on a 30 x 4.6 mm I.D. column packed with non-porous crosslinked polystyrene particles having a mean particle diameter of 3 micron and a rugulose surface. The polymeric support did swell slightly in organic solvents, but the estimated 5-8% change in particle diameter did not adversely affect the efficiency of the column which was used repeatedly with gradient elution from water to organic solvent under conditions typically employed in reversed-phase chromatography. In these experiments, the pH of the eluent was varied in a wide range in order to compare the effect of acidic and alkaline eluents on the separation of protein and complex peptide mixtures. The column showed no deterioration even after extensive exposure to alkaline mobile phases. The retention behavior of sixteen proteins having widely different pI values was studied as a function of the eluent pH. The chromatographic system exhibited large selectivity differences upon changing the pH of the eluent from 2 to 11. Analytical information about peptide and protein mixtures could therefore be enhanced by using eluents at the pH extremes. At the pH extremes of 2 and 11 peak sharpness and protein mass recovery were found to be superior to those obtained with neutral eluents. Usually the column temperature was held at 80 degrees C and typical analysis times ranged from 30 s to 10 min as illustrated by chromatograms of protein mixtures and by peptide maps. With regular use under such conditions the column showed no deterioration after three months.     

Mobile phase variations in thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of pesticides

The effect of four different mobile phase compositions with reversed-phase methanol-water (50:50) + 0.05 M ammonium acetate, methanol-water (50:50) + 0.05 M ammonium formate, acetonitrile-water (50:50) + 0.05 M ammonium acetate and acetonitrile-water (50:50) + 0.05 M ammonium formate were compared in filament-on thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of carbamate and chlorotriazine pesticides. In the positive-ion mode, [M + H]+ and [M + NH4]+ were generally the base peaks for the chlorotriazines and the carbamates, respectively. Depending on the mobile phase used, other adduct ions obtained corresponded to [M + CH3CN + H]+, [M + CH3OH + NH4]+, [M + CH3COONH4 + NH4 - 2H2O]+, [M + CH3CN + NH4]+, [M + CH3COONH4 + H - H2O]+ and the dimer [2M + H]+. In the negative-ion mode, [M - H]- and adducts with the ionizing additive [M + CH3COO]- or [M + HCOO]- were obtained. Other ions for the carbamates carbaryl and oxamyl corresponded to [M - CONHCH3 + CH3COOH]- and [M - CON(CH3)2 + HCOO]-, respectively. The variation of mobile phase composition provides additional structural information in thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with no appreciable loss of sensitivity. Applications are reported for the determination of carbamate and chlorotriazine pesticides at the ng/g level in spiked and real soil samples, respectively.     

Automated on-line gel permeation chromatography-gas chromatography for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in olive oil

An on-line combination of gel permeation chromatography and gas chromatography has been designed using either a laboratory-built or a commercially available LC-GC apparatus to determine organophosphorus pesticides in olive oil. Gel permeation chromatography was used for sample pretreatment, viz. to separate the low-molecular-mass pesticides from the higher-molecular-mass fat constituents of the oil. A mixture of n-decane and the azeotropic mixture of ethyl acetate and cyclohexane was found to give an adequate separation between the fat and the organophosphorus pesticides. The pesticide-containing fraction, monitored by a UV detector, was transferred on-line to the gas chromatograph using a loop-type interface. n-Decane (6%, v/v) was added to the eluent in order to widen the application range of the transfer technique towards more volatile pesticides. After solvent evaporation through the solvent vapour exit and subsequent GC separation, the compounds were selectively detected with a thermionic or a flame photometric detector. The set-up allowed the direct analysis of oil samples after dilution in the gel permeation chromatography eluent without further sample clean-up. Detection limits were about 5 and 10 μg/kg with the thermionic and the flame photometric detector, respectively, when using an injection volume of only 30 μl of the 20-fold diluted oil. The total procedure was linear in the 0.01–10 mg/kg range for both detectors. For twenty organophosphorus pesticides, the relative standard deviations were 3–13% at the 20–60 μg/kg level.     

Synthesis,anticancer and antiviral activities of novel thiopyrano[2,3-d]thiazole-6-carbaldehydes

Novel rel-(6R,7R)-2-oxo-7-phenyl-3,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-thiopyrano[2,3-d]thiazole-6-carbaldehydes were synthesized via regio- and diastereoselective hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of 5-arylidene-4-thioxo-2-thiazolidinones with acrolein. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for anticancer and antiviral activities by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) following US NCI and AACF protocols. Anticancer activity screening on NCI60 cell lines allowed identification of 7-phenyl-2-oxo-7-phenyl-3,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-thiopyrano[2,3-d]thiazole-6-carbaldehyde 3a with the highest level of antimitotic activity against leukemia with mean GI₅₀/TGI values 1.26/25.22 μM. The screening of antiviral activity lead to identification of 7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxo-3,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-thiopyrano[2,3-d]thiazole-6-carbaldehyde 3b with a promising influence on EBV virus (EC₅₀ = 0.07 μM, SI = 3279) and moderate effect on Herpes simplex virus type 1 and Varicella zoster virus and 7-[4-(benzyloxy)phenyl]-2-oxo-3,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-thiopyrano[2,3-d][1,3]thiazole-6-carbaldehyde 3e with a promising influence on Hepatitis C virus (EC₅₀ = 12.6 μM, SI = 43.1).     

基于柑橘皮渣纳米多孔碳分散固相萃取-气相色谱法 测定果蔬中14种有机磷农药残留

以废弃柑橘皮渣为碳源,通过ZnCl2活化后高温煅烧制备了纳米多孔碳材料(NPC),将其作为吸附剂,建立了分散固相萃取净化、气相色谱法测定果蔬中有机磷农药残留的方法.扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、傅立叶红外光谱(FT-IR)、拉曼光谱及氮气吸附分析(BET)等表征显示,NPC是无定形的多孔碳材料,孔径大小为0~15 nm,比表面积和孔体积分别为1243 m2/g和1.28 cm3/g.以果蔬中14种有机磷类农药为分析对象,考察了吸附剂的用量和净化时间,并将NPC与商业化材料N-丙基乙二胺(PSA)、十八烷基硅胶键合相(C18)和石墨化碳黑(GCB)进行了对比.结果表明,NPC最佳使用量为0.01 g,净化时间只需2 min.NPC成本远低于C18、PSA和GCB,因具有丰富的孔道结构,NPC净化效果显著优于3种商业化材料.在最优条件下,14种有机磷农药在0.02~1.0 mg/L范围内的线性关系良好(R2>0.99),检出限(S/N=3)为0.63~5.30μg/kg.3个添加水平下的平均回收率为71.3%~114.7%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.9%~12.9%.本方法操作简便、快速、成本低,在果蔬样品前处理中具有广阔的应用前景.     

The characterization of trichothecenes as their heptafluorobutyrate esters by negative-ion chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Negative-ion chemical ionization (NCI) and collisionally activated mass spectra are presented for heptafluorobutyryl (HFB) esters of eight trichothecenes. The ion-source conditions have a dramatic effect on the NCI spectra and only at low source temperatures can intense parent ions, i.e., M^? for bis- and tris-HFB esters (neosolaniol, HT-2 Toxin, monoacetosyscirpenol, fusarenon-X and deoxynivalenol) and [M-HF]^? for mono-HFB esters (T-2 Toxin, Iso-T-2 Toxin, and diacetoxyscirpenol), be generated. High selectivity and a sensitivity down to picogram (0.2-2pg) levels were achieved with gas chromatography/NCI tandem mass spectrometry. Application to a spiked oats sample is described.     

Electron impact,chemical ionization and negative chemical ionization mass spectra,and mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry–collision-induced dissociation fragmentation pathways of some deuterated 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) derivatives

Mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry (MIKES) with collision-induced dissociation (CID) has been used to study the fragmentation processes of a series of deuterated 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and deuterated 2,4,6-trinitrobenzylchloride (TNTCI) derivatives. Typical fragment ions observed in both groups were due to loss of OR′ (R′ = H or D) and NO. In TNT, additional fragment ibns are due to the loss of R₂′O and 3NO₂, whilst in TNTCI fragment ions are formed by the loss of OCI and R₂′OCI. The TNTCI derivatives did not produce molecular ions. In chemical ionization (Cl) of both groups. MH⁺ ions were observed, with [M – OR′]⁺ fragments in TNT and [M – OCI]⁺ fragments in TNTCI. In negative chemical ionization (NCI) TNT derivatives produced M^?′, [M–R′]^?, [M–OR′]^? and [M–NO]^? ions, while TNTCI derivatives produced [M–R]^?, [M–Cl]^? and [M – NO₂]^? fragment ions without a molecular ion.     

Fragmentation of negative ions from carbohydrates: Part 2. Fragmentation of high-mannose N-linked glycans

[M + NO3]- And [M + (NO3)2]2- ions were produced by electrospray from neutral high-mannose ([Man](5-9)[GlcNAc]2, [Glc](1-3)[Man](4-9)[GlcNAc]2) N-linked glycans and their 2-aminobenzamide derivatives sprayed from methanol:water containing ammonium nitrate. Low energy collision-induced decomposition (CID) spectra of both types of ions were almost identical and dominated by cross-ring and C-type fragments, unlike the corresponding spectra of the positive ions that contained mainly B- and Y-type glycosidic fragments. This behavior could be rationalized by an initial proton abstraction from various hydroxy groups by the initially-formed anionic adduct. These negative ion spectra were more informative than the corresponding positive ion spectra and contained prominent ions that were diagnostic of structural features such as the composition of individual antennas that were not easily obtainable by other means. C-ions defined the sequence of the constituent monosaccharide residues. Detailed fragmentation mechanisms are proposed to account for many of the diagnostic ions.     

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of ginsenosides

Ginsenosides R(b1), R(b2), R(c), R(d), R(e), R(f), R(g1), R(g2) and F(11) were studied systematically by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in positive- and negative-ion modes with a mobile-phase additive, ammonium acetate. In general, ion sensitivities for the ginsenosides were greater in the negative-ion mode, but more structural information on the ginsenosides was obtained in the positive-ion mode. [M + H](+), [M + NH(4)](+), [M + Na](+) and [M + K](+) ions were observed for all of the ginsenosides studied, with the exception of R(f) and F(11), for which [M + NH(4)](+) ions were not observed. The signal intensities of [M + H](+), [M + NH(4)](+), [M + Na](+) and [M + K](+) ions varied with the cone voltage. The highest signal intensities for [M + H](+) and [M + NH(4)](+) ions were obtained at low cone voltage (15-30 V), whereas those for [M + Na](+) and [M + K](+) ions were obtained at relatively high cone voltage (70-90 V). Collision-induced dissociation yielded characteristic positively charged fragment ions at m/z 407, 425 and 443 for (20S)-protopanaxadiol, m/z 405, 423 and 441 for (20S)-protopanaxatriol and m/z 421, 439, 457 and 475 for (24R)-pseudoginsenoside F(11). Ginsenoside types were identified by these characteristic ions and the charged saccharide groups. Glycosidic bond cleavage and elimination of H(2)O were the two major fragmentation pathways observed in the product ion mass spectra of [M + H](+) and [M + NH(4)](+). In the product ion mass spectra of [M - H](-), the major fragmentation route observed was glycosidic bond cleavage. Adduct ions [M + 2AcO + Na](-), [M + AcO](-), [M - CH(2)O + AcO](-), [M + 2AcO](2-), [M - H + AcO](2-) and [M - 2H](2-) were observed at low cone voltage (15-30 V) only.