ABSTRACT
An HPLC-DAD-MS/MS method was developed for rapid analysis and identification of degradation products of buagafuran. Buagafuran and degradation products were separated on a Zorbax C8 column (5 microm, 4.6 mm x 150 mm) using acetonitrile-water (78 : 22) as mobile phase. The elutes were detected with diode array detector and tandem mass spectrometer via electrospray ionization source in positive ion mode. According to analysis of the retention time, UV spectra and MS, MS/MS data, combined with the possible degradation reaction of buagafuran, the structures of main degradation products were inferred. The results showed that six main degradation products were oxidation or peroxidation productions of buagafuran. Degradation product A was a double bond epoxidation product of buagafuran, degradation products B, C, D and E were the further oxidation products of degradation product A, degradation product F was a peroxidation product of buagafuran. The results indicated that the established method was effective in the rapid identification of the degradation products of buagafuran.