Synthesis and identification of two potential oxidation degradants of oxymetazoline

Abstract Two potential oxidation degradants of oxymetazoline have been isolated by liquid chromatography and monitored by electrospray single quadrupole mass spectrometry. The structures of the products are shown to be oxymetazoline N ‐oxide and hydroxyamine by multiple‐stage fragmentation ion trap mass spectrometry. The product ion spectra were installed in a library database and the library was used to examine an aged commercial product; one of the degradants was detected, but at a level of less than 0.1% of the parent. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.