Comparison of the analysis of beta-blockers by different techniques.

In this work we have compared three analytical techniques (ELISA, GC-MS, and LC-MS) for the analysis of 16 beta-blockers: acebutolol, alprenolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, carteolol, labetalol, metipranolol, metoprolol, nadolol, oxprenolol, pindolol, propranolol, sotalol, timolol, and bupranolol. Several sample-preparation methods were optimized for each technique and enabled compounds of interest to be extracted from small urine samples (1-2.5 mL). The results enabled us to assess the possibilities and the sensitivity of each technique for application to doping tests. ELISA, whose selectivity is very poor and sensitivity the lowest one, is, nevertheless, useful as a rapid screening method. GC/MS and LC/MS provide confirmation procedures with the identification and quantification of the beta-blockers with good sensitivity, accuracy, precision. The LC-MS analytical procedure allows the determination of the target analytes in the lower ng/mL range (0.53-2.23 ng/mL). The methodology was applied to the analysis of beta-blockers in different urines.

Photochemical transformation of azoxystrobin in aqueous solutions.

The photochemical behaviour of azoxystrobin fungicide (AZX) in water was studied under laboratory conditions. Photodegradation was initiated using a solar simulator (xenon arc lamp) or a jacketed Pyrex reaction cell equipped with a 125 W, high-pressure mercury lamp. HPLC/MS analysis (APCI and ESI in positive and negative modes) was used to identify AZX photoproducts. The calculated polychromatic quantum efficiencies (phi) of AZX at pH 4.5, 7 and 9 were 5.42 x 10(-3), 3.47 x 10(-3) and 3.06 x 10(-3) (degraded molecules per absorbed photon), respectively. The relatively narrow range of values indicates the stability of AZX with respect to photodegradation in the studied pH range. Results from the HPLC/MS analysis suggest that the phototransformation of AZX proceeds via multiple, parallel reaction pathways including: (1) photo-isomerization (E-->Z), (2) photo-hydrolysis of the methyl ester and of the nitrile group, (3) cleavage of the acrylate double bond, (4) photohydrolytic ether cleavage between the aromatic ring giving phenol, and (5) oxidative cleavage of the acrylate double bond.

Comparison of the analysis of corticosteroids using different techniques.

In this work we have optimized the analysis of 18 human corticosteroids, some endogenous (tetrahydrocortisol, tetrahydrocortisone, cortisol, and cortisone) and others synthetic (betamethasone, budesonide, cortisone acetate, desonide, dexamethasone, dexamethasone acetate, flunisolide, fluocinolone acetonide, halcinonide, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, prednisone, triamcinolone, and triamcinolone acetonide). Three analytical techniques were developed: ELISA, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Several sample-preparation methods were optimized for each technique and enabled compounds of interest to be extracted from small urine samples (several mL). The results enabled us to assess the possibilities and the sensitivity of each technique for application to doping tests.

Analysis of aromatic sulfur compounds in gas oils using GC with sulfur chemiluminescence detection and high-resolution MS.

The analysis of alkylbenzothiophenes (alkyl-BT) and alkyl-dibenzothiophenes (alkyl-DBT) in light cycle oil (LCO) and straight run (SR) gas oils is described. A detailed identification and quantitative analysis of alkyl-BT and alkyl-DBT present in LCO gas oils was carried out using GC-SCD. For the SR gas oils, the simultaneous presence of thiophenic and nonthiophenic compounds does not allow for a selective analysis of thiophenic compounds by GC-SCD. A new method using gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) is proposed to selectively detect and quantify the alkyl-BT and alkyl-DBT in SR gas oils. The development of the method and comparison of results between GC-SCD and GC-HRMS are presented.

Simulated sunlight-induced photodegradations of triasulfuron and cinosulfuron in aqueous solutions.

To elucidate the photochemical behavior of two sulfonylureas (cinosulfuron and triasulfuron) for which the chemical formulas are relatively close, their photodegradation was studied in water. All experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions using a xenon arc lamp as the source of radiation to simulate environmental conditions. Polychromatic quantum efficiencies were calculated to determine the photochemical pesticide lifetimes at pH 7, and a comparison with hydrolysis lifetimes has been performed. The results obtained showed clearly that at pH 7, photodegradation becomes a more important pathway than chemical degradation. HPLC-DAD was used to study the kinetics for both sulfonylureas and their photoproducts, whereas HPLC-MS (ESI in positive and negative modes) was used to identify photoproducts. These results suggest that the photodegradation of these two sulfonylureas proceeds via a number of reaction pathways: (1) cleavage of the sulfonylurea bridge; (2) desulfonylation, which can proceed either by a carbon-sulfur cleavage or a nitrogen-sulfur cleavage; (3) O-demethylation of methoxy moieties present on the triazine ring; and (4) O-dealkylation of benzene derivatives. In addition, it was found that the desulfonylation represented the main step and that it was wavelength dependent.

Detection of new propofol metabolites in human urine using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry techniques.

Using hyphenated analytical techniques, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), a study on minor propofol metabolites in human urine was conducted. These techniques allowed identification of two new phase I metabolites (2-(omega-propanol)-6-isopropylphenol and 2-(omega-propanol)-6-isopropyl-1,4-quinol). In addition, their four corresponding conjugates (three glucuronides and one sulphate) were detected. Thus in human urine at least eight conjugate metabolites are produced, derived from four different aglycones (propofol; 2, 6-diisopropyl-1,4-quinol; 2-(omega-propanol)-6-isopropylphenol and 2-(omega-propanol)-6-isopropyl-1,4-quinol).

Approach to the analysis of diuretics and masking agents by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in doping control.

The application of thermospray and plasmaspray high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to the analysis of diuretics and probenecid has been investigated. The latter method gave better ionization efficiency than the former, and its response was optimized by altering the solvent composition: best results were obtained with water-methanol-acetonitrile-trifluoroacetic acid. Using different proportions of these solvents, three isocratic systems were developed to separate the compounds under study. The principal characteristic of plasmaspray positive-ion mass spectra was a protonated molecular ion and very little fragmentation was evident. In the negative ionization mode, the plasmaspray method gave mass spectra showing more fragmentation, which resulted in additional structural information. The ability of trifluoroacetic acid to form negative cluster ions precluded its use as a mobile phase component. The minimum detectable amounts determined by the analysis in the positive-ion mode was compound-dependent, but generally ca. 10-150 ng. In many cases the compounds could be detected in urine extracts.