Analysis of procyanidins in chocolate by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometric and tandem mass spectrometric detection

The analysis of procyanidins in crude chocolate extracts by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (MS) is described in this report. Catechin monomers and p rocyanidin oligomers (dimers to hexamers) were identified according to the mass of the single charged pseudomolecular ion ([M-H](-)). Identification w as further confirmed by collision-induced dissociation MS-MS analysis, whic h in addition, permitted the identification of double charged pentameric, h exameric, and heptameric ions. This study demonstrates the capability of th e combination of HPLC and modem ion trap mass analysers to significantly re duce sample preparation and analysis time in combination with high specific ity and structural information for compound identification. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.