New SRM Data Dependent Exclusion (MS)ⁿ Measurement for Structural Determination of Drug Metabolites Using LC/ESI/Ion Trap MS

Abstract

New SRM (selected reaction monitoring) data dependent exclusion (MS)ⁿ measurement makes it possible to obtain MS³ fragmentation data for all MS² fragments, useful for structural determination of drug metabolites using ESI ion trap. MS² fragments are produced by cleavage of all protonated molecules at the lone electron pairs of heteroatoms or the π electrons of double and triple bonds, benzene rings and hetero-rings of drugs. Usually, data dependent MS³ measurement cleaves only MS² fragment of highest intensity, that normally does not contain important metabolic sites. Fragmentation data from all parts of drug metabolites is required to determine structure. In addition to the usual basic measurement of protonated molecules and (MS)ⁿ fragmentation of drug metabolites, we demonstrate the use of SRM data dependent (MS)ⁿ measurement, plus new SRM data dependent exclusion (MS)ⁿ measurement for structural determination of metabolites.