Stereoselective determination of famoxadone enantiomers with HPLC-MS/MS and evaluation of their dissipation process in spinach

A simple and enantioselective method for the determination of famoxadone enantiomers in spinach using reversed-phase HPLC-MS/MS is presented. Famoxadone residues in spinach were extracted with acetonitrile and an aliquot was cleaned up with PSA (primary and secondary amine, Si-(CH(2))(3)-NH-(CH(2))(2)-NH(2)) and C(18) sorbent, which were powder material. Chiral stationary phase (CSP), cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate), was successfully applied to separate two enantiomers using methanol/formic acid-ammonium acetate buffer as mobile phase. The MS/MS fragmentation pathway of ammonium adduct famoxadone molecules ion at m/z 392 was analyzed and an odd electron fragment ion at m/z 238 was observed. Excellent linearity was achieved for each enantiomer over a range of concentrations from 0.5 to 1500 μg/L with coefficients more than 0.99. Average recoveries at five different levels (1, 2.5, 12.5, 250 and 1250 μg/kg, for each enantiomer) ranged from 80.8 to 96.5% with RSD of 4.8-13.4%. The famoxadone enantiomers LODs in spinach were determined to be both 0.3 μg/kg with LOQs of 1 μg/kg. Based on this method, the dissipation process of famoxadone enantiomers in spinach under open field and greenhouse conditions was characterized, providing guidance to the proper and safe use of this fungicide in agriculture.