Electrospray ionization possibilities

Two relatively new techniques, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-lime of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and electrospray ionization (FS1), offer new possibilities for analysis of polymers with molecular weights in the tens of thousands. PS molecular weights as high as 1.5 million have been determined by MALDI-TOF. Recent reviews on the application of these techniques to synthetic polymers include those by Ilantoif54 and Nielen.555 The methods have been much used to provide evidence for initiation and termination mechanisms in various forms of living and controlled radical polymerization.550 Some examples of the application of MALDI-TOF and ESI in end group determination are provided in Table 3.12. The table is not intended to be a comprehensive survey. 

As with GC/MS, LC/MS offers the possibility of unequivocal confirmation of analyte identity and accurate quantiation. Similarly, both quadrupole and ion-trap instruments are commercially available. However, the responses of different analytes are extremely dependent on the type of interface used to remove the mobile phase and to introduce the target analytes into the mass spectrometer. For pesticide residue analyses, the most popular interfaces are electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). Both negative and positive ionization can be used as applicable to produce characteristically abundant ions. 

In general the commercial TOP instruments have two detectors one for the linear mode and one for the reflectron mode. The combination of MALDI with TOP is ideal because both techniques are pulsed techniques. However, it is also possible to arrange a continuous beam as generated by electrospray ionization. Por that purpose orthogonal acceleration was developed [65]. The ion beam is introduced perpendicularly to the TOP and packets are accelerated orthogonally (oa-TOP) at similar frequencies improving the sensitivity. While a packet of ions is analyzed, a new beam is formed in the orthogonal acceleration. 

The development of mass spectrometric ionization methods at atmospheric pressures (API), such as the atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)99 and the electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)100 has made it possible to study liquid-phase solutions by mass spectrometry. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry coupled to a micro-reactor was used to investigate radical cation chain reaction is solution101. The tris (p-bromophenyl)aminium hexachloro antimonate mediated [2 + 2] cycloaddition of trans-anethole to give l,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethylcyclobutane was investigated and the transient intermediates 9 + and 10 + were detected and characterized directly in the reacting solution. However, steady state conditions are necessary for the detection of reactive intermediates and therefore it is crucial that the reaction must not be complete at the moment of electrospray ionization to be able to detect the intermediates. 

The third method which provides evidence for a knotted structure is mass spectrometry.42 With electrospray ionization (ESI) it is possible to ionize the knot and other similar molecules by protonation and to transfer them into the highly diluted gas phase of a mass spectrometer. In a so-called tandem-MS experiment, the parent ion, i.e. the protonated knot, is isolated and subjected to collisions with a stationary gas inside the... 

A sensitive and rapid chromatographic procedure using a selective analytical detection method (electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry in SIM mode) in combination with a simple and efficient sample preparation step was presented for the determination of zaleplon in human plasma. The separation of the analyte, IS, and possible endogenous compounds are accomplished on a Phenomenex Lima 5-/rm C8(2) column (250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d.) with methanol-water (75 25, v/v) as the mobile phase. To optimize the mass detection of zaleplon, several parameters such as ionization mode, fragmentor voltage, m/z ratios of ions monitored, type of organic modifier, and eluent additive in the mobile phase are discussed. Each analysis takes less than 6 min. The calibration curve of zaleplon in the range of 0.1-60.0 ng/ml in plasma is linear with a correlation coefficient of >0.9992, and the detection limit (S/N = 3) is 0.1 ng/ml. The within- and between-day variations (RSD) in the zaleplon plasma analysis are less than 2.4% (n = 15) and 4.7% (n = 15), respectively. The application of this method is demonstrated for the analysis of zeleplon plasma samples [14]. 

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