THERMOSPRAY-LC-MS ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF POLYPHENOLS IN TEA .2. CHLOROGENIC ACIDS, THEAFLAVINS AND THEARUBIGINS

An account is given of the application of thermospray LC-MS in the ana lysis of caffeoyl- and p-coumaroylquinic acids, theaflavins and thearu bigins in black tea. All compounds, except for the thearubigens, could be detected as the pseudo-molecular ion [M+H](+). In addition to [M+H ](+), other species such as adducts with sodium, ammonium and potassiu m, as well as solvent clusters were observed. The formation of those a dducts depended upon on the structure of the compound. A fragmentation of chlorogenic acids occurred at elevated temperatures yielding the c onstituents of the molecules (caffeic, p-coumaric and quinic acids).