New SRM data dependent exclusion (MS)n measurement for structural determination of drug metabolites using LC/ESI/Ion trap MS.

New SRM (selected reaction monitoring) data dependent exclusion (MS)(n) measurement makes it possible to obtain MS(3) fragmentation data for all MS(2) fragments, useful for structural determination of drug metabolites using ESI ion trap. MS(2) fragments are produced by cleavage of all protonated molecules at the lone electron pairs of heteroatoms or the pi electrons of double and triple bonds, benzene rings and hetero-rings of drugs. Usually, data dependent MS(3) measurement cleaves only MS(2) fragment of highest intensity, that normally does not contain important metabolic sites.

Strategy for structural elucidation of drugs and drug metabolites using (MS)n fragmentation in an electrospray ion trap.

Triple-stage quadrupole (TSQ) electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and ion trap ESI-MS/MS can be used to cleave protonated molecules to produce carbocations and neutral molecules in the positive ion mode. Dissociation products which correspond to protonated forms of neutral fragment molecules can also be trapped and detected. These protonated molecules in turn can cleave via carbocation cleavage, ipso cleavage, onium cleavage or McLafferty or related rearrangements.