Aspartame degradation study using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Electrospray mass spectrometry was used to simultaneously determine aspartame (APM) and five of its degradation products; aspartic acid, aspartylphenylalanine, 5-benzyl-3,6-dioxo-2-piperazieacetic acid (diketopiperazine), phenylalanine, and phenylalanine methyl ester. Under the ionization conditions used, there was no interfering fragmentation for any of the six compounds, i.e., no fragmentation of the compound being tested into other species also being monitored. A study of APM degradation in solution at various pH's and at various temperatures using this method was performed. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.