Detailed structural elucidation of polyesters and acrylates using Fourier transform mass spectrometry.
The detailed structural characterization of complex polymer architectures, like copolymers and polymer mixtures, by mass spectrometry presents a challenge. Even though soft ionization analyses revolutionized the characterization of large molecules and provided a means for determining the polymer's molecular weight distribution, polydispersity, and end groups, full microstructure elucidation and monomer sequencing by soft ionization alone is not possible. The combination of high-resolution Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS(n)) provides a powerful analytical tool for addressing these challenges. This tool was used in our work to separate and identify the products of polymerization between 12-hydroxystearic acid (HSA) and stearic acid (SA), to provide precise information about the exact location of caprolactones on the Tris(2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanurate (THEIC) molecule, and to sequence a glycidyl methacrylate/methyl methacrylate (GMA/MMA) copolymer. The results highlight the value of ultrahigh resolution and tandem mass spectrometry for fine structural characterization and sequencing of polymers.
Simonsick
William J
WJ
Chestnut Run Plaza, DuPont Fluorochemicals, Wilmington, DE 19880-0711, USA. William.J.Simonsick@usa.dupont.com
Petkovska
Violeta I
VI
D000179:Acrylates / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D002208:Caproates / Q000737:chemistry; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011091:Polyesters / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014227:Triazines / Q000737:chemistry
D000179:Acrylates; D002208:Caproates; D007783:Lactones; D011091:Polyesters; D013229:Stearic Acids; D014227:Triazines; C509473:isocyanuric acid; C031183:stearic acid; C121056:caprolactone