Field desorption mass spectrometric characterization of thiol conjugates related to the oxidative metabolism of the anticancer drug 4′-(9-acridinylamino)-methanesulfon-m-anisidide

Conjugation products with glutathione (GSH) and other endogenous thiol derivatives related to the oxidative metabolism of the anticancer drug, 4′-(9-acridinlyamino) methanesulfon-m-anisidide (m-AMSA) were synthesized and characterized by field desorption mass spectrometry. The primary microsomal oxidation product of m-AMSA, m-AQDI, was prepared by MnO2 oxidation of the parent drug and reacted with equimolar GSH, cysteine, N-acetylcysteine and N-acetylcysteine methyl ester to form m-AMSA-(5′)-thiol conjugates linkedat the aniline ring, as major products. Field desorption mass spectra of the conjugates provided abundant [MH]plus; ions, and characteristic fragment ions by cleavage at the thioe…