Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry of three glutathione conjugates of acetaminophen.

Three glutathione conjugates of acetaminophen were characterized by fast atom bombardment/mass spectrometry (FAB/MS) and fast atom bombardment/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (FAB/MS/MS). The conjugates, 3-(glutathion-S-yl)acetaminophen, 3-(glutathion-S-yl)diacetaminophen and 3-(diglutathion-S-yl)diacetaminophen showed intense [MH]+ ions at m/z 457, 606 and 911, respectively. Only 3-(glutathion-S-yl)acetaminophen showed any fragmentation by FAB/MS. Structurally characteristic fragmentation was observed with all three conjugates when the [MH]+ ions were collisionally activated. The loss of the glycine (GLY) and glutamic acid (GLU) moieties indicated the presence of at least one glutathione (GSH) group. Multiple losses, some of which could only occur via cleavages in both GSH moieties, were observed with the diglutathione conjugate.