Derivatization-targeted analysis of amino compounds in plant extracts in neutral loss acquisition mode by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Amino compounds, such as amino acids and biogenic amines, are important metabolites that can be found in diverse natural matrices. The most common method for compound analysis nowadays is reversed-phase liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (RPLC-MS/MS). However, due to the polar basic nature of their RPLC retention often insufficient or peaks tailing. Derivatization a way overcome issue present work compounds derivatized with diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate (DEEMM) analyzed by triple quadrupole MS system neutral loss scan (NLS) mode (loss 46). This allows target all sample undergo derivatization DEEMM, so profile obtained. To best our knowledge, NLS acquisition has never been employed after DEEMM derivatization. In first part study, eight (arginine, aspartic acid, threonine, proline, tyrosine, tryptophan, phenylalanine isoleucine) were model optimization, good results terms derivatives detection repeatability. developed was successfully applied complex extract from plant species Carduus nutans subsp. macrocephalus (Desf.) Nyman, 18 3 other amines being identified. proposed approach could straightforward identification known unknown different types