Identification of ceftiofur oxidation products by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

Oxidation products of ceftiofur were formed in hydrogen peroxide solution. The structures of the ceftiofur oxidation products were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI/MS/MS). The products were identified as compounds oxidized at the sulfur of a cephem ring. For further analysis, experiments were performed using O18-labeled hydrogen peroxide. In addition, density-functional calculations were carried out for six possible oxidation products to support the experimental results.