Identification of an 18-Methyl Derivative of Tacrolimus API in Streptomyces clavuligerus CKD-1119

A new derivative of tacrolimus was evaluated for its molecular weight, using LC-MS of the tacrolimus bulk active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) recovered through the purification of crude tacrolimus produced by Streptomyces clavuligerus CKD-1119. In addition, the molecular weight of the new derivative of tacrolimus was found to be at m/z 818 and was identified by ^13C-NMR with peak assignments based on the differences in methyl group location resulting from the chemical structure. The structure of the new derivative, an unknown impurity of tacrolimus, was found to be 18-methyltacrolimus through comparison of the spectral data of the structural differences between ascomycin,tacrolimus, and the new derivative 18-methyltacrolimus.