title: Structural characterization of polyethers using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
abstract: Fragmentation of polyethers, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(propylene glycol) and poly(tetramethylene glycol) was analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS/MS) using a quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer (QIT-ToF). The Li adduct ion provided more abundant fragments than the Na and K adduct ions in the MS/MS spectra. A previous study had demonstrated four series fragments of hydroxyl-, vinyl- and formyl-terminated ions, as well as distonic cations, in high-energy fast atom bombardment MS/MS and MALDI collision-induced dissociation measurements of poly(ethylene glycol). In the present study, the low-energy MS/MS measurements using MALDI-QIT-ToF, showed hydroxyl-, vinyl- and formyl- terminated fragments with or without other fragment groups, but not distonic cations. The fragmentation depended on the types of polyethers examined. MS/MS measurements using MALDI-QIT-ToF are expected to allow structural characterization of unknown components of polyethers.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-8-31 Midorigaoka, Ikeda, Osaka 563-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okuna
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiuchi
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arakawa