title: Rapid characterization of polyalcohols by silylation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
abstract: A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry method for rapidly enumerating hydroxyl groups in analytes is described, and applied to some common polyalcohols (erythritol, mannitol and xylitol). Polyalcohols were derivatized with trimethylsilylimidazole (TMSI) either separately or as mixtures, and were analyzed, without chromatographic separation or purification. The mass spectra revealed consecutive peaks that are separated by 72 m/z units as a consequence of displacement of one hydroxyl hydrogen atom by one TMS group. The number of observed peaks was used to confirm the number of hydroxyl groups in each analyte.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service-NCAUR, Bioproducts and Biocatalysis Research Unit, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, USA. anthony.adeuya@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adeuya
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D004896:Erythritol / Q000737:chemistry; D008353:Mannitol / Q000737:chemistry; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D013402:Sugar Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry*; D014297:Trimethylsilyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014993:Xylitol / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D013402:Sugar Alcohols; D014297:Trimethylsilyl Compounds; D008353:Mannitol; D004896:Erythritol; D014993:Xylitol