HPLC combined with multiple mass spectrometry (MSn): an alternative for the structure elucidation of compounds and artefacts found in smog chamber samples.
Ion trap multiple mass spectrometry combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (online HPLC-MSn) was used to identify carbonyl compounds and artefacts found in air samples of 2-3 L taken during the OH-radical reaction study of cis-3-acetyl-2,2-dimethylcyclobutylethanal (pinonal) or cis-3-acetyl-2,2-dimethylcyclobutylcarbaldehyde (nor-pinonal) in a smog chamber. Carbonyls were transformed into 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones. Detection of low picogram quantities was possible. Twenty-eight compounds could be identified based on the presence of structure characteristic fragments, a developed fragmentation scheme, comparison of retention times and a library of MSn spectra of selected carbonyls. Furthermore, the additional elucidation of the sub-structures of sixteen unknowns was possible. Details about the structure elucidation procedure and the formation of the observed fragments are presented.
Brombacher
S
S
University of Basel, Neuhausstrasse 31, CH-4057 Basel, Switzerland.
Oehme
M
M
Beukes
J A
JA
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity