Characterization of atenolol transformation products in ozonation by using rapid resolution high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Identified transformation products of atenolol are including its mono-, di and tri-hydroxylated derivatives as well as the aliphatic and aromatic ring breakdown products. Transformation of atenolol in the ozonation involved hydroxylation reaction, aromatic ring opening reaction, oxidation and cleavage of 2-hydroxy-3-(isopropylamino)propoxy group of atenolol. In ozonation, aromatic ring of atenolol was transformed through the reaction with both ozone and
- OH whereas the aliphatic chain of atenolol was degraded mainly through the reaction with
- OH. The results also indicated that both
- OH and ozone involved in the aromatic ring opening reaction.