Chemical ionization and field desorption mass spectrometry of the gentamicins.

Gentamicin sulphate employed in therapeutics consists of a mixture of three major aminoglycoside components, the gentamicins C1, C1a and C2. In the electron impact mass spectra of these components weak parent ions may be observed but they are of no diagnostic value in the commercial mixture. Chemical ionization and field desorption spectra of individual gentamicin components and commercial mixtures are reported and discussed. Isobutane chemical ionization spectra exhibit some fragmentation, but under optimum field desorption conditions little glycosidic cleavage is observed and [M + H]+ ions dominate the spectra.