How to distinguish between feruloyl quinic acids and isoferuloyl quinic acids by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

All four regioisomers of feruloyl quinic acid and isoferuloyl quinic acid were synthesized and a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method developed that resolves all eight regioisomers. All eight regioisomers can be readily distinguished by their MS/MS spectra in the negative ion mode, illustrating the power of tandem mass spectrometry to elucidate the structures of regioisomeric compounds. Compound identification is possible, either by direct comparison of spectral fingerprints or by rational probing of diagnostic fragment ions, thus allowing the identification of these important classes of natural products and potential human metabolites.