Identification of the degradation compounds of cefathiamidine by liquid chromatography-tandam mass spectrometry

AimTo identify the degradation compounds of cefathiamidine by a liquid chromatography-tandam mass spectrometry (LC-MS). MethodsAccording to the accelerated storage condition, two main degradation compounds of cefathiamindine were its hydrolytic products. Cefathiamidine was separated on a C₁₈ column, with 1% acetate solution-acetonitrile (85∶15) as mobile phase. The mass spectra and MS/MS spectra were obtained with set at the positive ion mode. Combined the UV spectra and the chromatography behavior, the structures of two degradation compounds were identified. ResultsThe method can be used for the separation of the degradation compounds of cefathiamindine. The two major degradation compounds were desacetylcefathiamidine and cefathiamidine lactone. ConclusionThe method is rapid, sensitive and specific, and it is suitable for the identification of the degradation compounds of cephalosporin.