Analysis of basic compounds by reversed-phase liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry in high-pH mobile phases

The separation of basic compounds in high-pH mobile phases results in extended retention, excellent peak shapes and good chromatographic efficiency. A severe decrease in sensitivity with electrospray mass spectrometric detection in positive ion mode (ESI+-MS) is expected under conditions that suppress analyte ionization in solution. We compared the responses of a large number of various basic drugs covering a wide range of hydrophobic (log P 0.09 to 7.6) and basic character (pKa 6.8-10) in LC-ESI+-MS/MS in 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile, to responses in 10mM ammonium hydrogencarbonate buffers of different pH (7.8-11), and acetonitrile. Contrary to common expectations, high-pH mobile phases do not affect negatively the responses of basic compounds in ESI+. Analyte responses and limits of detection are comparable, or most often better in high pH compared to acidic mobile phases.     

Capillary electrochromatography of basic compounds using octadecyl-silica stationary phases with an amine-containing mobile phase

The capillary electrochromatographic (CEC) analysis of basic compounds on octadecyl-silica stationary phases (Hypersil ODS and Spherisorb ODS I) was studied. A basic drug (fluvoxamine) and one of its possible impurities were used as test compounds. With an eluent of acetonitrile-phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), the compounds could be baseline-separated; however, broad and tailing peaks were obtained. To minimise detrimental interactions with residual silanol groups, the pH of the mobile phase was lowered to 2.5, but the plate numbers were still quite low (<2.6x10(4) plates/m). Addition of a masking agent (hexylamine or triethylamine) to the mobile phase resulted in much better peak efficiencies (ca. 1x10(5) plates/m). Therefore, the influence of the amine concentration and pH of the mobile phase on the CEC performance (peak width, peak tailing, electroosmotic flow, selectivity) was investigated in detail. Highest efficiencies (2.8x10(5) plates/m) could be obtained with the Spherisorb column, while the Hypersil column offered a better selectivity. Furthermore, the results show that the residual silanol groups are (at least partly) responsible for the separation of the basic compounds and that the amount of injected sample has an unusually large effect on the peak efficiency. The usefulness of the system for impurity profiling was demonstrated with a mixture containing fluvoxamine and its stereoisomer (a possible impurity) at the 0.1% level. The general effectiveness of amine additives in CEC was illustrated by the separation of a mixture of five structurally different basic drugs yielding plate numbers in the 1x10(5)-3x10(5) plates/m range. Comparison with capillary electrophoretic analysis revealed a unique selectivity of the CEC system which is based on both electrophoretic mobility and chromatographic partitioning.     

Hydrophobic and cation exchange mechanisms in the retention of basic compounds in a polymeric column

A cation exchange retention mechanism concomitant with the well-known hydrophobic partition mechanism in a polymeric column has been observed and investigated. This exchange process is attributed to ionization of some acidic sites present in the polymer column at basic mobile phase pH values. Several drugs of different basicity have been chromatographed on a polymeric PLRP-S column with methanol-water and acetonitrile-water mobile phases. The cation exchange between the protonated basic drug and the buffer cations (Na+, K+ and BuNH4+) is observed at the pH range where the protonated drug and the ionized sites of the column coexist. This process produces a shift of the retention versus pH plot of the base to pH values lower than those expected from the pKa of the base as well as a maximum in the plot at basic pH values. These effects are more pronounced for acetonitrile-water mobile phases.     

Separation, detection, and identification of peptides by ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry at high and low pH

Bioactive peptides and tryptic digests of various proteins were separated under acidic and alkaline conditions by ion-pair-reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPIPC) in 200 microm I.D. monolithic, poly(styrene-divinylbenzene)-based capillary columns using gradients of acetonitrile in 0.050% aqueous trifluoroacetic acid, pH 2.1, or 1.0% triethylamine-acetic acid, pH 10.6. Chromatographic performances with mobile phases of low and high-pH were practically equivalent and facilitated the separation of more than 50 tryptic peptides of bovine serum albumin within 15-20 min with peak widths at half height between 4 and 10 s. Neither a significant change in retentivity nor efficiency of the monolithic column was observed during 17-day operation at pH 10.6 and 50 degrees C. Upon separation by RP-HPIPC at high-pH, peptide detectabilities in full-scan negative-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (negESI-MS) were about two to three times lower as compared to RP-HPIPC at low-pH with posESI-MS detection. Tandem mass spectra obtained by fragmentation of deprotonated peptide ions in negative ion mode yielded interpretable sequence information only in a few cases of relatively short peptides. However, in order to obtain sequence information for peptides separated with alkaline mobile phases, tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) could be performed in positive ion mode. The chromatographic selectivities were significantly different in separations performed with acidic and alkaline eluents, which facilitated the fractionation of a complex peptide mixture obtained by the tryptic digestion of 10 proteins utilizing off-line, two-dimensional RP-HPIPC at high pH x RP-HPIPC at low pH and subsequent on-line identification by posESI-MS/MS.     

Selectivity differences between alkyl and polar‐modified alkyl phases in reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography

Compared to conventional C18 phases, polar‐modified phases have distinct differences with regards to chromatographic behavior. In the present study, ODS phases and polar‐modified phases were synthesized. The columns containing these new packings demonstrated satisfactory stability under both acidic (pH 1.5) and basic (pH 10) conditions. We evaluated the selectivity differences between alkyl and polar‐modified alkyl RP columns by using a range of neutral analytes. The polar‐modified alkyl phases showed excellent peak shapes for almost all compounds. We also compared the selectivity differences between them for separating nucleotides by using 100% aqueous mobile phase and tricyclic antidepressants in the intermediate pH mobile phases. The results demonstrated that polar‐modified phases display a significantly reduced hydrophobic nature and a significantly reduced silanol activity compared to the conventional C18 phases.     

Effects in high-performance liquid chromatography of a high pH in the mobile phase on poly(methyloctylsiloxane) immobilized by gamma-radiation on titanium-grafted silica

Effects of high-pH environments on a stationary phase prepared by gamma-radiation immobilization of poly(methyloctylsiloxane) on titanium-grafted silica were investigated by HPLC testing with standard sample mixtures. The HPLC parameters indicate good stationary phase stability to 10000 column volumes each of mobile phases with pH of 7, 9 and 12. At pH 13, the efficiency decreases slowly, although reasonably good separations are still possible until increasing flow resistance no longer allows easy passage of the mobile phase.     

Effect of n-octanol in the mobile phase on lipophilicity determination by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a modified silica column

In this study, we show that the addition of n-octanol to the mobile phase improves the chromatographic determination of lipophilicity parameters of xenobiotics (neutral solutes, acidic, neutral and basic drugs) on a Phenomenex Gemini C18 column. The Gemini C18 column is a new generation hybrid silica-based column with an extended pH range capability. The wide pH range (2-12) afforded the examination of basic drugs and acidic drugs in their neutral form. Extrapolated retention factor values, [Formula: see text] , obtained on the above column with the n-octanol-modified mobile phase were very well correlated (1:1 correlation) with literature values of logP (logarithm of the partition coefficient in n-octanol/water) of neutral compounds and neutral drugs (69). In addition, we found good linear correlations between measured [Formula: see text] values and calculated values of the logarithm of the distribution coefficient at pH 7.0 (logD(7.0)) for ionized acidic and basic drugs (r(2)=0.95). The Gemini C18 phase was characterized using the linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) model of Abraham. The LSER system constants for the column were compared to the LSER constants of n-octanol/water extraction system using the Tanaka radar plots. The comparison shows that the two methods are nearly equivalent.     

Analysis of human parathyroid hormone (1-84) products. Separation of a major impurity in synthetic products by ion-pairing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Human parathyroid hormone (1-84) is a naturally occurring polypeptide that acts as the major regulator of calcium ion homeostasis. It can be efficiently produced through both synthetic and biosynthetic routes and, as such, highly selective analytical methods are required for the detection of a wide range of impurities. Herein we report on the development of an ion-pairing reversed-phase HPLC method for the analysis of human parathyroid hormone and the separation of impurities including a major, unidentified impurity detected in synthetic preparations. This impurity could not be resolved using trifluoroacetic acid-based methods generally used for monitoring purity levels in commercial products. Separation conditions consisted of a gradient elution of 0.155 M sodium chloride containing 0.037 M sodium pentanesulfonate, pH 5.6, as mobile phase A and acetonitrile as mobile phase B. Separations were carried out on an octadecylsilyl silica column maintained at 50 degrees C. Both column temperature and pH of mobile phase A significantly affected the separation of the major impurity. The major impurity eluted after the main human parathyroid peak and was detected in the two commercial synthetic products analyzed. Several minor impurities eluting before and after the main peak were also detected. Purity levels measured by the developed HPLC method (method C) were similar to those previously measured by capillary electrophoresis. Analysis of purified recombinant human parathyroid hormone did not show the presence of this impurity. This method offers a significant advantage for the purity assessment of human parathyroid hormone.     

Use of high‐pH (basic/alkaline) mobile phases for LC–MS or LC–MS/MS bioanalysis

High‐pH or basic/alkaline mobile phases are not commonly used in LC–MS or LC–MS/MS bioanalysis because of the deeply rooted concern with column instability and reduced detection sensitivity for basic compounds in high‐pH mobile phases owing to charge neutralization. With the advancement of LC column technology and the wide recognition of the “wrong‐way‐round” phenomena, high‐pH mobile phases are more and more used in LC–MS or LC–MS/MS bioanalysis to improve chromatographic peak shape, retention, selectivity, resolution, and detection sensitivity, not only for basic compounds, but also for many other compounds. In this article, the benefits, practical considerations, application examples and cautions for using high‐pH mobile phases in LC–MS or LC–MS/MS bioanalysis are reviewed, with a focus on quantification. Furthermore, the future trends in this field are also envisaged. A total of 84 references are cited in this review.     

Developments with anion exchange stationary phases for HPLC-ICP-MS analysis of antimony species

Novel HPLC-ICP-MS methodologies are developed using strong anion exchange (Phenomenex SAX-SB) and weak anion exchange (Alltec HAAX) stationary phases in conjunction with a range of aqueous mobile phases to enable simultaneous separations of inorganic Sb(III), Sb(V) and organic trimethylantimony dichloride (TMSb) species in synthetic solutions. Optimum isocratic separations of inorganic Sb(V) and Sb(III) species are achieved using mobile phases comprised of ammonium tartrate under controlled pH conditions, and rapid pH gradient elution profiles are developed to facilitate separations of the Sb(V), Sb(III) and TMSb species in a single chromatographic run. Optimum peak resolution is achieved when using the 100 x 4.6 mm HAAX column at 20 degrees C and 100 mM ammonium tartrate mobile phases with a gradient from pH 3.0 to pH 1.2, although a system peak co-elutes with TMSb under these conditions and precludes quantitative analyses. Interestingly, the elution order of Sb(V), Sb(III) and TMSb species reverses when the temperature of the HAAX stationary phase is increased to 60 degrees C, and concurrent use of a less acidic pH gradient elution profile from pH 2.3 to pH 1.5 is shown to enable successful species separations whilst preventing occurrence of the co-eluting system peak. Limits of detection are achieved in the sub ng mL(-1) range using these novel HPLC-ICP-MS methodologies and provide scope for future environmental analysis applications.     

Continuous screening of analytical parameters facilitates efficient development of HPLC methods required for impurity profiling

Developing a robust analytical HPLC–UV method to characterize a drug candidate during an early stage of development is a major challenge when not all impurity standards are available. Here, we report our efforts to devise an efficient strategy for HPLC method development using continuous screening of analytical parameters without impurity standards. This strategy uses small incremental changes in the mobile phase pH and column temperature to trace each impurity on an overlay chromatogram. We tested this method using benzocaine as the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), and compounds with similar structures to represent unknown impurities. Despite the coelution of peaks, results identified the number of impurities and indicated the starting point and parameter variables of the ensuing optimization step. Further, we demonstrated that the retention time of each peak as a function of mobile phase pH accounts for the apparent pK_a of known and unknown compounds in the presence of an organic solvent. This information is critically important to the selection of a robust pH range for HPLC methods.     

Mobile-phase pH influence on the retention of some benzoic acid derivatives in reversed-phase chromatography

Five end-capped octadecyl RP stationary phases, among which one was a polar embedded stationary phase, were tested for the analysis of benzoic acid derivatives using two mobile phases with or without addition of formic acid (water pH was measured by a common approach; pH of water with addition of formic acid was 3.0 and without formic acid 5.8). The influence of mobile-phase pH on the retention of benzoic acid derivatives was under study. Consequently, Purospher-STAR and Alltima columns provided symmetrical peaks for benzoic acid derivatives at pH 3.0 and also at pH 5.8. Reprosil and Symmetry stationary phases showed poor peak shapes at higher pH of the mobile phase. Differences between the tested columns may be caused by surface heterogeneity. Another reason may be the presence of some atoms creating additional adsorption sites on the surface of Reprosil and Symmetry stationary phases. This can lead to enhanced silanol activity resulting in peak tailing. The addition of formic acid into the mobile phase improved peak shapes. The polar embedded C18 stationary-phase Synergi-Fusion-RP appeared as not a suitable column for the analysis of benzoic acid derivatives. Synergi-Fusion-RP provided asymmetrical peaks even if formic acid was added into the mobile phase.     

Novel RPLC stationary phases for lipophilicity measurement: solvatochromic analysis of retention mechanisms for neutral and basic compounds

An RPLC was developed to rapidly determine lipophilicity of neutral and basic compounds using three base deactivated RPLC stationary phases particularly designed for the analysis of basic compounds, namely, Supelcosil ABZ(+)Plus, Discovery RP Amide C16, and Zorbax Extend C18. The work consisted of three sets of experiments. In the first log kw values of neutral compounds were extrapolated using hydroorganic mobile phases at different compositions. Good correlation between log kw and log Poct indicated that the method was appropriate for these supports, without adding a silanol masking agent. In the second set of experiments, isocratic log k values of neutral and basic compounds were measured with three different mobile phases. The best estimation of lipophilicity was obtained for neutral and basic compounds when the secondary interactions were strongly reduced (i. e., when basic compounds were under their neutral form). In the third set of experiments, isocratic retention factors of basic compounds (in their neutral form) were measured with a high-pH mobile phase, on a chemically stable support (Zorbax Extend C18). Under these chromatographic conditions, correlation between the isocratic retention factors and log Poct (log D10.5) for basic compounds was similar to that for neutral compounds.     

Optimized stationary phases for the high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of basic pharmaceuticals

Stationary phases were investigated for HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) for the analysis of basic drugs. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and beta-blockers were used as model solutes. The functional groups, pentafluorophenyl (PFP), OH, CN or CH3 were attached to the silica via a propyl chain. The effects of these stationary phases as well as C8 and C18 phases on retention and peak shape of the basic drugs were studied. The CN and PFP phases adequately retained (tR of 2 to 6 min) the basic drugs when the mobile phase was composed of 90% acetonitrile, whereas with the C4, C8 and C18 phases, less than 40% acetonitrile had to be used to provide adequate retention of the basic drugs. Because acetonitrile provides better desolvation in ESI than an aqueous solvent, it produces an increased MS signal. As an example of the HPLC-ESI-MS analysis of the beta-blocker, pindolol, on a CN phase, the use of 90% acetonitrile in the mobile phase increased the ESI-MS signal by 790% when compared to a C18 phase which could use only 5% acetonitrile in the mobile phase for retention of the solute. In addition, the CN and PFP phases provided better peak shape than the OH phase and the hydrophobic phases (C4, C8 and C18) and ion-pairing or ion-suppressing agents were not required. The retention behavior of the TCAs and beta-blockers on each of the phases is described.     

Separation of negatively charged nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography

Reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography in a 5-microm C18 fully packed capillary was employed to optimize the separation of negatively charged nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The effect of the physico-chemical parameters and different analysis modes on the separation of 2-arylpropionic acids was studied and evaluated. The mobile phase composition, buffer type, concentration and pH differently influenced the peak efficiency and resolution, selectively modulating the analytes interaction with the stationary phase. The use of zwitterionic MES or acetate mobile phases strongly modulated the analytes migration order and peak efficiency. The optimum experimental conditions were found in MES buffer, pH 5.0, containing the 75% acetonitrile-methanol (1:1). All the analytes were baseline separated in a mixture in less than 13 min with peak efficiencies in the range of 78,500-84,200 N/m. Under these conditions the analytes were negatively charged and their effective electrophoretic mobilities played a role in the separation. The analysis of different pharmaceutical preparations containing anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. drops and tablets, is also presented after a very simple sample pretreatment.     

Quantitative determination of sodium stearyl fumarate in a tablet formulation from continuous manufacturing using a high-pH reversed-phase HPLC method

This study demonstrates the first use of a reversed-phase (RP) high-performance liquid chromatography method with a high-pH buffer for the analysis of sodium stearyl fumarate (SSF) from a tablet formulation. After examining the retention time and peak shape using various buffer concentrations, buffer pH, and RP stationary phases, an optimized method was established using the XBridge® BEH C18 at high pH. This column was further evaluated for method specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity, stability, and sensitivity. Finally, the method was successfully used as a convenient and robust analytical procedure to accurately quantitate SSF in stratified tablets from a continuous manufacturing process to confirm the excipient uniformity throughout the process.     

Analysis of basic compounds at high pH values by reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RPLC) is currently the method of choice for the analysis of basic compounds. However, with traditional silica materials, secondary interactions between the analyte and residual silanols produce peak tailing which can negatively affect resolution, sensitivity, and reproducibility. In order to reduce these secondary interactions, which comprise ion exchange, hydrogen bonding, and London forces interactions, chromatographic analyses can be carried out at low or high pH values where silanol groups and basic compounds are mostly uncharged. The chromatographic behaviour of a particular bidentate stationary phase, Zorbax Extend C18, was studied with a set of basic and neutral compounds. Thanks to a higher chemical stability than traditional silica based supports, analyses were carried out with a high pH mobile phase, which represents a good alternative to the acidic mobile phases generally used to reduce ion exchange interactions. The performance of this bidentate stationary phase was also compared with that of other supports and it was proved that it is advantageous to work with high pH mobile phases when analyzing basic compounds.     

Chromatographic evaluation using basic solutes of the silanol activity of stationary phases based on poly(methyloctylsiloxane) immobilized onto silica

The chromatographic behaviors of some basic solutes were evaluated on stationary phases based on poly(methyloctylsiloxane) immobilized onto silica (PMOS-SiO(2)). The test solutes present both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. Evaluations of the pH effect used 80:20 v/v methanol/buffered mobile phase over the pH range of 5-11.5 with inorganic buffers such as borate, carbonate and phosphate and with organic buffers such as citrate, tricine and triethylamine. Evaluations in acidic mobile phases used 50:50 v/v and 30:70 v/v methanol/buffer (pH 2.5; 20 mmol/L) mobile phases. The buffer concentration effect used 65:35 v/v methanol/phosphate (pH 7; 20 and 100 mmol/L) mobile phases. The results are compared with those obtained with two chemically bonded stationary phases. The immobilized phases show greater contributions from an ion-exchange mechanism than do the commercial phases. The results indicate that the silanol activity of PMOS-SiO(2) stationary phases can be adequately evaluated by using appropriate basic probes and mobile phases having different pH, using different buffers.     

Comparison of peak shapes obtained with volatile (mass spectrometry-compatible) buffers and conventional buffers in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of bases on particulate and monolithic columns

Retention factor, column efficiency and asymmetry factor were recorded for nine basic compounds on a number of RP-HPLC columns using phosphate and a variety of (MS-compatible) volatile mobile phase buffers of acid and neutral pH, in order to assess any effects of the buffer on performance. With formic or acetic acid, some phases gave partial or complete solute exclusion effects (reduced or negative k) compared with results using phosphate buffers at low pH. Despite its possible suppression of mass spectrometer sensitivity, trifluoroacetic acid was useful in enhancing retention times of relatively hydrophilic protonated bases, due to ion-pair effects. Peak shape was relatively poor on some pure silica-based ODS phases at pH 7 compared with results at acid pH. At low pH and at pH 7, ammonium and potassium phosphate gave very similar k, but the former may be preferable due to its volatile cation. Improved peak shapes, attributed to superior silanol masking effects, were obtained with ammonium phosphate at pH 7, but not at acid pH. Ammonium acetate gave acceptable peak shape at pH 7, but due to very limited buffer capacity, poor results were obtained for solutes having a pKa close to the mobile phase pH. Due to its instability, ammonium hydrogen carbonate is not a viable alternative buffer at pH 7.