Polyphenols are secondary plant metabolites that have generated significant contemporary interest because of their biological activity and sensory properties. The tremendous complexity of natural phenolics, however, poses a severe analytical challenge.

This presentation will focus on how HPLC and MS technologies may be exploited to improve phenolic analysis. First, we will discuss the application of technological advances in liquid chromatography, including UHPLC, superficially porous stationary phases, high temperature liquid chromatography, and comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LCxLC), for improved phenolic separation. The second part of the presentation will focus on the benefits of advanced MS detection strategies, including both high-resolution Q-TOF — for compound identification based on accurate mass information (in MS and MS–MS modes) — and triple quadrupole MS instruments — for selective targeted analysis, screening of compound classes (in neutral loss mode), and structural confirmation (in product ion spectrum mode). The general fragmentation behavior of polyphenols in MS and MS–MS modes will also be summarized.

The benefits provided by the combination of high resolution separation and advanced MS detection will be demonstrated through several real-life examples of the application of UHPLC–MS and UHPLC–MS-MS and LC◊LC–MS for polyphenol analysis, including proanthocyanidins, chalcones, flavonols and anthocyanins in a variety of natural products such as wine, grapes, tea, cocoa, apple and berries.