Analysis of estrogen glucuronides. I--Characterization of estrogen glucuronides by gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

The mass spectral characterization of nine kinds of estrogen glucuronides was investigated. The glucuronides were analysed after conversion to n-propyl ester-O-TMS ether derivatives by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The fragmentation of these derivatives is discussed using deuterium labels and TMS-d9 imidazole. A clear-cut difference was found between aliphatic and aromatic glucuronic acid conjugates. In particular the [M - 362]+- fragment ion was characteristic in the mass spectra of estrogen 3-glucuronides. On the other hand, four isomers of estriol and 16-epiestriol glucuronides containing an aliphatic acetal linkage were also characterized by the fragment ions of m/e value 204, 345, 415, and 431 and their relative intensities. Thus, all nine estrogen glucuronides were discriminated mass spectrometrically.