Mass spectrometric studies on selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) using electron ionization and electrospray ionization/collision-induced dissociation

Abstract

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) have been identified as a promising class of drug candidates potentially applicable to diverse pathological conditions commonly associated with significantly reduced muscle mass. Due to a suspected and meanwhile repeatedly proven misuse of SARMs in elite and amateur sport, sustaining constantly updated doping control analytical methods is critical for sports drug testing laboratories. These test methods predominantly utilize mass spectrometry-based instrumentations and, consequently, studies on the mass spectrometric behavior of new compounds and, where available, their metabolic products are vital for comprehensive doping controls. In this communication, the dissociation patterns of three new SARM drug candidates referred to as GSK2881078, PF-06260414, and TFM-4 AS-1 as observed under electron ionization as well as electrospray ionization/collision-induced dissociation are discussed. By means of high resolution/high accuracy tandem mass spectrometry employing quadrupole-orbitrap mass analyzers, information on precursor-product ion relationships and elemental compositions was obtained and subsequently utilized to suggest dissociation routes of the target compounds. This information can contribute to future studies concerning structure assignments of metabolites and accelerate the identification of related substances if distributed and/or illicitly used in the world of sport.