title: Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of quaternary ammonium pesticides.
abstract: A detailed MS(n) study on an ion trap instrument of the quaternary ammonium pesticides paraquat, diquat, difenzoquat, mepiquat and chlormequat reveals a number of ions not reported previously, and has allowed examination of the fragmentation pathways. A number of transitions that are highly specific to each quat have been identified. Optimal ion trap operating conditions determined using Simplex optimisation can promote either detection of a particular fragmentation transition or a range of MS/MS product ions with a high overall signal response. Thus, fragmentation conditions were optimised to enhance the specificity or sensitivity of MS/MS methods.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Startin
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Goodall
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Keely
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D012015:Reference Standards; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012996:Solutions