Structural analysis of synthetic polymer mixtures using ion mobility and tandem mass spectrometry.
Ion mobility (IM) combined with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has been employed to separate and differentiate between polyether oligomers with the same nominal molecular weights. Poly(ethylene glycol)s with the same nominal mass-to-charge ratio (m/z), but with differing structures, were separated using ion mobility. IM-MS/MS data were able to aid identification of the backbone and end groups of the four individual polyethers in the two sets of isobaric mixtures. The MS/MS data from the resolved oligomers enabled a detailed structural characterization of the polyether mixtures to be completed in one experiment.
Hilton
Gillian R
GR
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
Jackson
Anthony T
AT
Thalassinos
Konstantinos
K
Scrivens
James H
JH
D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
D045424:Complex Mixtures; D007477:Ions; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols