title: Use of porous graphitic carbon column for the separation of natural isomeric tropane alkaloids by capillary LC and mass spectrometry.
abstract: This study presents the outstanding chromatographic selectivity of a porous graphitic carbon support for the separation of four isomeric tropane alkaloids from the stem-bark of Schizanthus grahamii (Solanaceae). Capillary liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was studied after the appropriate selection of mobile phase composition, temperature, nature and concentration of the acidic modifier. Fragmentation behaviour by in-source collision-induced dissociation (CID) on a single quadrupole mass spectrometer, or MSn with an ion-trap, was investigated for structural identification. The ability to differentiate the isomers by in-source CID was demonstrated and a fragmentation pathway, based on MSn sequences together with accurate mass experiments, was proposed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences EPGL, University of Geneva, 20 Bd d'Yvoy, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bieri
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varesio
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Veuthey
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christen
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D020374:Chromatography, Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary; D005561:Formates / Q000737:chemistry; D006108:Graphite; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D019657:Solanaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014326:Tropanes / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D005561:Formates; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D014326:Tropanes; C030544:formic acid; D006108:Graphite