title: Fast screening of low molecular weight compounds by thin-layer chromatography and "on-spot" MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
abstract: Fast screening of low-MW compounds is performed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) followed by direct on-spot matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry identification with nearly "matrix-free" mass spectra using an UV-absorbing ionic liquid matrix. Owing to minimal background ions from the proton donor triethylamine/alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid ionic liquid matrix, three arborescidine alkaloids, the anesthesics levobupivacaine and mepivacaine, and the antibiotic tetracycline were readily characterized most frequently by the MS detection of their protonated molecules. The technique is fast and sensitive, requires little sample preparation and manipulation, and is therefore suitable for fast screening with TLC separation and MS identification of low-MW compounds, with potential applications in areas such as phytochemistry, synthetic chemistry, and product manufacturing quality monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Thomson Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, and Faculty of Medical Science, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Nelci F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Höehr
authors.forename: Ronaldo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pilli
authors.forename: Marcos N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Eberlin
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000737:chemistry; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods*; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry; D008619:Mepivacaine / Q000737:chemistry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011522:Protons; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000777:Anesthetics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D007211:Indoles; D011522:Protons; C483922:arborescidine A; C483923:arborescidine B; C483924:arborescidine C; D008619:Mepivacaine; D013752:Tetracycline; D002045:Bupivacaine