Electron ionization and atmospheric pressure photochemical ionization in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of amino acids.
The mass spectra of tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) derivatives of 17 amino acids were obtained using electron ionization (EI) and atmospheric pressure photochemical ionization (APPhCI) mass spectrometry. The APPhCI mass spectra for all of the derivatives except arginine were shown to consist of only molecular [M](+.) and quasimolecular [MH](+) ions whereas, in the case of EI, the compounds in question underwent a drastic fragmentation. The application of APPhCI to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry enables a reliable identification of the TBDMS derivatives of amino acids in a mixture, even if its components are only partially resolved, due to the unique molecular masses for each compound. Comparison of the respective positive-ion chemical ionization (PICI) mass spectra available in the literature with APPhCI spectra has shown that, in the case of PICI, unlike APPhCI, noticeable fragmentation occurs.
Revelsky
Igor A
IA
Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, bldg 3, 119992 GSP-2 Moscow, Russia.
Yashin
Yuri S
YS
Sobolevsky
Tim G
TG
Revelsky
Alexander I
AI
Miller
Barbara
B
Oriedo
Vincent
V
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D010777:Photochemistry; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*
D000596:Amino Acids