Development of Mass Spectrometry Skills through Instrumental Activities for Second-Year Students of Medicinal Chemistry

Instrumental experiments using simple mass spectrometers have been proposed for second-year undergraduate students in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design. The experimental goals were to develop students’ skills in mass spectrometer operation, e.g., by varying ion source and analyzer parameters, in mass spectra interpretation, e.g., recognition of charge separation reaction, isomer differentiation, as well as to expand their knowledge in the field of gas-phase ion chemistry, e.g., retro-Diels–Alder reaction, ortho-effect. A number of drugs, namely, pancuronium, amikacin, salvarsan, ephedra alkaloids, aspirin, have been analyzed by the students by using various mass spectrometric techniques. The activities included direct inlet/infusion-mass spectrometry (DI-MS) as well as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high pressure liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) experiments. The experiments may be a good solution when access to more advanced instruments is problematic.