Hydrogen-deuterium exchange in fused-silica capillary columns

Derivatization in mass spectrometry --7. On-line derivatisation/degradation

The review describes on-line derivatization/degradation methods employed in mass spectrometry to solve some structural and analytical problems. Advantages and applications of various positions of reaction systems connected mainly to a mass spectrometer or a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer are considered. Among these are reaction systems connected directly to the mass spectrometer (reaction mass spectrometry, pyrolysis-mass spectrometry or direct pyrolysis-mass spectrometry); flash-heaters as reactors in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS); in-line chemical reactors located before the chromatographic column [pre-column derivatization/degradation with the use of catalytic reactions, pyrolysis (pyrolysis-GC/MS), degradation in elemental analyzers-isotope ratio mass pectrometry (EA-IRMS)]; on-column derivatization and deuteration; reactor located between the chromatographic column and a mass spectrometer [post-column catalytic derivatization, gas chromatograph-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometer (GC-c-IRMS)]. Post-column derivatization in high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectro-metry is briefly mentioned. Application of such on-line methodology to structure elucidation of low molecular mass compounds and polymers, to the determination of isotope ratios of the most common elements, to the investigation of catalytic reactions is discussed..

Strategies for dealing with metabolite elucidation in drug discovery and development

Structural information on metabolites can be a considerable asset for enhancing and streamlining the process of developing new drug candidates. Modern approaches that generate and use metabolite structural information can accelerate the drug discovery and development process by eliminating potentially harmful candidates earlier in the process and improving the safety of new drugs. This review examines the relative merits of current and potential strategies for dealing with metabolite characterization.

Quantitation of the tetrachloroethylene metabolite N-acetyl-S-(trichlorovinyl)cysteine in rat urine via negative ion chemical ionization gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and selective negative ion chemical ionization gas chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric (NICI GC/MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of the tetrachlorethylene metabolite, N-acetyl-S-(trichlorovinyl)cysteine (TCVC), in rat urine. Urine samples were fortified with a 13C,D2-analog of TCVC, acidified and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract were derivatized with methanolic HCl, and the resulting methyl esters analyzed via NICI GC/MS/MS. Detection of the TCVC analogs was performed by monitoring the Cl- product ion of M-Cl2C2HS-. The limit of detection for TCVC by this method was estimated to be 0.1 ng ml-1 urine (3 x noise). The quantitation limit was determined to be 0.3 ng TCVC per milliliter of urine. The method was found to be linear for TCVC concentrations from 0.3 to 104 ng ml-1 urine. Relative recovery of TCVC from urine ranged from 95.4% to 108.5%. Additional data are given for GC/MS and GC/MS/MS analysis of the pentafluoro-benzyl ester derivative of TCVC. Data are also presented for the isolation and analysis of this compound obtained from dosed rats.

Gas chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric identification and quantitation of metabolic 4-acetyltoluene-2,4-diamine from the F344 rat

2,4-Toluenediamine (TDA) and 2,4-toluenediisocyanate (TDI) are metabolized in the Fischer 344 rat to monoacetyl-2,4-toluenediamine (Ac-TDA) and diacetyl-2,4-toluenediamine (Ac2-TDA). A gas chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric (GC/MS/MS) method was developed to characterize the structure of the Ac-TDA metabolite (2-acetyl versus 4-acetyl), as a D3-diacetyl-TDA derivative. This method was also shown to be useful in the measurement of urinary levels of TDA, Ac-TDA and Ac2-TDA. Urine samples (1.0 g) were adjusted to pH 6.5-7.0, fortified with the internal standard D9-Ac2-TDA (D3-ring + D3-acetyl x 2) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 2 ml). The extract residues were then derivatized with D6-acetic anhydride and analyzed via electron impact GC/MS/MS. MS/MS analysis of the D3-Ac2-TDA derivative of the two Ac-TDA isomers yielded different daughter ion spectra from the common parent ion (m/z 209). Analysis of urine samples from rats administered TDA (p.o., i.v.) and TDI (p.o., inhalation) indicated that all of the metabolic Ac-TDA from these test materials was the 4-acetyl-TDA isomer. Subsequent GC/MS analysis of the heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA) derivative of this metabolite confirmed the MS/MS results. Selected ion monitoring of the M-acetyl daughter ions from the derivatized TDA, Ac-TDA and Ac2-TDA was shown to be a useful technique for quantitation of urinary levels of these compounds, with a detection limit of 35 ng g-1 urine for TDA and 10 ng g-1 urine for Ac-TDA and Ac2-TDA.

Androgen metabolism assessment by routine gas chromatography/mass spectrometry profiling of plasma steroids: Part 1, Unconjugated steroids

Using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry we have developed a method for the simultaneous determination of six plasma steroids: testosterone, 4-androstenedione, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone. For each analyte, a deuterium-labeled internal standard was used for quantification. Due to the high isotopic purity of our standards, no complex corrections for isotope contributions were necessary. The procedure provides a sensitive and specific technique with good accuracy and precision.