| Abstract: | The aim of this study was to characterize as much as possible the unknown peaks in the chromatogram obtained with a non-volatile LC-UV system, which was published earlier for the separation of dirithromycin and its related substances. For this purpose, each peak eluting from the non-volatile system was collected and transferred to a MS, after performing a desalting process. The desalting procedure uses a XTerra RP C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 µm) and two mobile phases consisting of a mixture of water / 0.1% (v/v) formic acid and a mixture of acetonitrile / 0.1% (v/v) formic acid, respectively. Mass spectral data were acquired on an LCQ ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source (ESI), operating in the positive ion mode. In addition to the thirteen already known compounds, seven new compounds were elucidated. Five impurities showed modifications at the amino group of the desosamine molecule, one an alteration at position C-9 and one a modification at position C-13 of the macrolide ring. |
