ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate fragmentation pathways of amoxicillin using electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry,and to provide reference for quality and quantity analysis of amoxicillin.METHODS: Amoxicillin was further purified by high performance liquid chromatography,and the fragmentation mechanisms were investigated by electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem mass spectrometer.RESULTS: The ?-lactam ring of amoxicillin has three different opening modes;2 kinds of different m/z:114 ion fragments are obtained by two different fragmentation pathways;m/z:349 ion fragments can be a characteristic fragment of amoxicillin for quality and quantity analysis of amoxicillin.CONCLUSION: The method is sensitive and accurate for further study of transformation and metabolism of amoxicillin and its quality and quantity analysis.