Sugars - Enantiomeric analysis of D,L-arabitol as trifluoroacetyl derivatives in spinal fluid

Importance of the topic

Chiral sugar alcohols such as arabitol occur in cerebrospinal fluid and serve as diagnostic markers for inherited metabolic disorders. Reliable separation and quantitation of D- and L-arabitol enantiomers support clinical metabolomics and enhance understanding of neurological pathologies.

Objectives and study overview

This application note presents a fast, robust GC-MS method for enantiomeric analysis of arabitol derivatives in spinal fluid. The goal is to achieve baseline separation of D- and L-arabitol, with high sensitivity and reproducibility, using trifluoroacetyl derivatization and a chiral GC column.

Methodology and instrumentation used

• Sample preparation: 100 µL raw cerebrospinal fluid dried and derivatized with trifluoroacetic anhydride; final extract in ethyl acetate.
• Instrumentation: GC-MS capillary system with Agilent Chirasil-Dex CB column (0.25 mm × 25 m, 0.25 µm film) and retention gap.
• GC conditions: Oven programmed from 90 °C to 200 °C at 3 °C/min; helium carrier at 0.77 bar; splitless injection at 250 °C, 1 µL injection volume.
• MS detection: Negative chemical ionization (NCI) mode at 250 °C for enhanced selectivity toward trifluoroacetyl derivatives.

Main results and discussion

The chiral Chirasil-Dex CB column enabled complete resolution of three components: ribitol (internal standard), D-arabitol, and L-arabitol. Retention times were reproducible, with retention window separation exceeding baseline. The NCI-MS detector provided a limit of quantitation around 20 µmol/L and demonstrated low background noise. Method precision showed relative standard deviations below 5 % for retention times and peak areas.

Contributions and practical applications

This method allows clinical laboratories to:

• Perform enantiomeric quantitation of arabitol in spinal fluid with high selectivity.
• Detect and monitor metabolic disorders related to pentitol accumulation.
• Integrate into routine QA/QC workflows for metabolomics research.

Future trends and application opportunities

Advances may include automated sample preparation, faster temperature gradients, and coupling with high-resolution MS for untargeted chiral metabolite profiling. Expansion to other sugar alcohols and integration with clinical decision support systems will broaden diagnostic capabilities.

Conclusion

The described GC-MS approach delivers a fast, selective, and reproducible solution for D- and L-arabitol analysis in cerebrospinal fluid. Its sensitivity and enantiomeric resolution make it suitable for clinical metabolomics and diagnostic applications.

References

No additional literature references were provided in the original application note.