An evaluation of the gas-phase ion chemistry of rotenone (1) by electrospray ionisation (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS2) is presented, aiming at providing tools for its determination in natural and biological matrices. The behaviour of its cycloadducts with benzonitrile-N-oxide (2) and 2,4,6-trimethylbenzonitrile-N-oxide (3) was also evaluated and the MS data thus obtained have provided evidence into the mechanism of formation of the key product ion at m/z 192 which can be considered a marker in the MS and MS2 spectra of rotenone and its derivatives.
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