Mass spectrometry of pancuronium bromide and related quaternary ammonium steroids using the moving belt LC/MS interface

Pancuronium and vecuronium are members of a series of quaternary ammonium steroids used as neuromuscular blocking agents in anesthesiology. In this study the mass spectrometric properties of these bromide salts are examined and spectral features which permit their differentiation are evaluated. The relative merits of chemical ionization and fast atom bombardment using the moving belt liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry interface have been investigated. Fragmentation pathways for both ionization methods were determined with deuterium labeling and linked-scan techniques. Cleaner spectra can be obtained via the matrix-free belt introduction system as compared to conventional fast atom bombardment.