LC–MS characterization of metoclopramide photolysis products

The aim of this study was to investigate the photodegradation of the antiemetic drug metoclopramide. Metoclopramide aqueous solutions were photoirradiated at 254 nm under argon atmosphere. Irradiated metoclopramide solutions were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry in order to characterize photolysis products. Rapid decrease in metoclopramide purity, following first-order kinetic, was observed following irradiation. The structures of 18 photolysis products were tentatively identified based on their mass spectra and fragmentation. The main degradation mechanism was scission of the chlorine which could be followed by polymerization of the resulting products since dimeric and trimeric products were observed.