Abstract
1. Fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectra, obtained from mercapturic acid-pathway metabolites (glutathione-, mercapturic acid- and cysteine-conjugates, and a sulphoxide of the mercapturate) of propachlor, are presented. 2. Each underivatized mercapturic acid-pathway metabolite of propachlor gave a FAB mass spectrum containing an (M + H)+ ion (7–100% relative intensity), an (M + Na)+ ion and characteristic fragment ions. 3. The advantage of the FAB technique in obtaining mass spectra of these mercapturic acid-pathway metabolites of propachlor and other xenobiotics is discussed. 4. Ions in the FAB spectra resulting from sample fragment/glycerol interactions were characterized.