Infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a sulfolane matrix.
Infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (IR-MALDI) of the polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene was performed using a 10.6-microm CO2 laser and a liquid matrix. Sulfolane (tetrahydrothiophene 1,1-dioxide) was found to be an effective matrix for PAH ionization: mass spectra obtained with a sulfolane matrix contain an intense molecular ion peak; interference from PAH fragment and matrix peaks is negligible in all cases. The main limitation of the sulfolane matrix is sample evaporation after 3 to 5 min in vacuum. This sample lifetime can be increased to between 15 and 30 min using a 2:1 (v/v) mixture of sulfolane and glycerol, but the resulting spectra have greater matrix interference and decreased shot-to-shot signal stability.
Jackson
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Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Murray
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D000873:Anthracenes / Q000737:chemistry; D001551:Benz(a)Anthracenes / Q000737:chemistry; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000737:chemistry; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods; D013876:Thiophenes
D000873:Anthracenes; D001551:Benz(a)Anthracenes; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D013876:Thiophenes; C006710:benzotriphenylene; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; C034020:anthracene; C013693:sulfolane