Mass spectrometry desirable features

Since a large number of polycarbonates possessing the desired structural features can be prepared from a variety of diols, it is useful to develop simple methods to predict their behavior as resist materials. To this effect, we have devised spectroscopic methods to follow the degradation of the polycarbonates under a variety of thermolysis or acidolysis conditions. For example, the thermolysis of the solid polymers can be followed conveniently by gas-chromato-graphy-mass spectrometry. The thermolysis is a very clean reaction which proceeds as shown in Scheme III without side-product formation. Figure 4 shows the gas chromatographic trace obtained when polymer II is subjected to thermolysis near 250 the products analyzed by the mass spectrometer have the expected structures as shown in Figure 4. 

Mass spectrometry has attained a unique position in analytical chemistry as a quantitative analysis tool, especially when coupled with high-resolution separation devices. Quantitative analysis of a variety of molecules is performed routinely with mass spectrometry-based methods at unprecedented high-sensitivity. It has several desirable features that make it the most sought-after analytical technique for quantitative analysis. These features include ... 

Time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) is probably the simplest method of mass spectrometric measurement by the physical principle. The key features of TOFMS are extreme sensitivity (all ions are detected), practically unlimited mass range and as well as high-speed analysis (recent TOFMS instruments are able to measure hundreds full spectra per second). This all makes TOFMS one of the most desirable methods of mass analysis (Schlag, 1994 Guilhaus, 1995). The general scheme of TOFMS is shown in Scheme 1. 

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