Enhancing the response of alkyl methylphosphonic acids in negative electrospray ionization liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry by post-column addition of organic solvents

J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2007 Oct;18(10):1821-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jasms.2007.07.019. Epub 2007 Jul 29.

Abstract

A method to enhance the signal intensity and signal-to-noise of several alkyl methylphosphonic acids in negative electrospray ionization liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (ESI LC-MS/MS) is presented. This class of compound represents the initial metabolites and environmental degradants of the nerve agents: VX, rVX (Russian VX), GB (Sarin), GF (Cyclosarin), and GD (Soman). Compared with the post-column addition of the mobile phase, the post-column addition of aprotic solvents and longer chain alcohols enhance the signal intensity and signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of the chromatographic peaks by factors of up to 60 and 19, respectively. The post-column addition of water, methanol, and ethanol resulted in little or no relative signal enhancement. It is proposed that the post-column addition of these solvents do not result in the same enhancements due to stabilization of analyte solvation through hydrogen bonding.

MeSH terms

  • Alkylation
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Organic Chemicals / chemistry*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / chemistry*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Solvents / chemistry*
  • Specimen Handling / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*

Substances

  • Organic Chemicals
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Solvents
  • methylphosphonic acid