OBJECTIVETo identify products decomposed in high temperature water and alcohol from diester alkaloids such as aconitum alkaloid, in order to study their transformation regularity.

METHODStructures of multiple converted products were determined by analyzing on multistage mass spectrometry of known compounds and literature searching.

RESULTBenzaconine and pyraconitine were the major hydrolysates, while pyraconitine and ethoxy-aconitine were the major alcoholysates from diester alkaloids.

CONCLUSIONPyraconitine alkaloids, as pyrolytic products, are not related to the type of solvent. 8-ethoxy-aconitine alkaloids, as alcoholysates, are related to the type of solvent. This study identifies multiple converted products from alkaloids and summarizes mass spectrometry fragmentation regularity by LC-MS, laying a firm foundation for studies on the transformation of toxic diester alkaloids contained in aconitum and providing a basis for studies on the transformation of alkaloids contained in aconitum during boiling.