MASS SPECTROMETRY OF ARISTOLOCHIC ACIDS

Abstract

The electron impact-induced fragmentation of aristolochic acids and some synthetic model compounds has been investigated using high resolution mass spectrometry. It was found that the only primary cleavage given by condensed aromatic systems having a carboxy and a nitro function in peri positions consists of the elimination of NOr. The complexity which is usually observed in the upper mass range of the spectra of aristolochic acids is attributable to contaminations with closely related compounds. The potential of high resolution mass spectrometry for the analysis of mixtures of aristolochic acids from natural sources is demonstrated.