Multiple mass detection scheme

A further extension of the DFG S19 method was achieved when polar analytes and those unsuitable for GC were determined by LC/MS or more preferably by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Triple-quadrupole MS/MS and ion trap MS" have become more affordable and acceptable in the recent past. These techniques provide multiple analyte methods by employing modes such as time segments, scan events or multiple injections. By improving the selectivity and sensitivity of detection after HPLC separation, the DFG S19 extraction and cleanup scheme can be applied to polar or high molecular weight analytes, and cleanup steps such as Si02 fractionation or even GPC become unnecessary. 

Staggered parallel chromatography is an efficient and capable tool for linking multiple HPLC systems to a serial detection device, the mass spectrometer. The LC2MS version of the LCnMS approach has been in continuous use since 1998 in our laboratory and has supported hundreds of studies. The LCnMS scheme is now available from many commercial venders. However, for users who want to utilize existing equipment and not purchase additional equipment, it is beneficial to configure an ad hoc system from standard HPLC equipment as presented in this chapter. 

The results actually showed a deracemization of the racemic hydroxyester 10 as opposed to enantioselective hydrolysis with formation of optically pure (R)-hydroxyester 10 and only 20 % loss in mass balance. Small quantities of ethyl 3-oxobutanoate 9 (<5%) were also detected throughout the reaction, leading the authors to suggest a multiple oxidation-reduction system with one dehydrogenase enzyme (DH-2) catalysing the irreversible reduction to the (R)-hydroxy-ester (Scheme 5). 

After all four positive scans are completed (typically within 3 s), the polarity is switched and the fifth scan event records a negative-ion full-scan MS. If the expected protonated molecule is not detected in the positive mode, the second, third and fourth scan events are skipped and the fifth (negative-ion-mode) scan event is triggered. Similar to the positive-ion mode, if the expected [M-H]- ion is detected in the full-scan MS, IT data-dependent MS/MS (sixth), FT accurate MS (seventh), and FT MS/MS (eighth) scan events are acquired. Clearly demonstrated here is the ability of the LTQ-FT to handle multiple experiments on a chromatographic time scale. One might question the need for such an elaborate data-dependent scheme when apparently all that is needed is an accurate mass determination followed by a data-dependent accurate mass MS/MS spectmm. Apart from the fact that using the... 

Isopropyl derivatives were introduced by Pettitt and Stouffer [287] and later studied by other workers [288]. They are prepared by reaction with 2-bromopropane in the presence of sodium hydride in dimethyl sulphoxide. The reaction scheme and the preparation procedure were given in Chapter 4 (see p. 64). Except for Arg, all amino acids under study provided the expected derivatives. The hydroxyl group of Hypro was, however, not protected. The derivatives were found to be stable for a reasonable period of time and were analysed on 3% of OV-17. The extension of this promising one-step method to all protein amino acids did not fulfill expectations, however [288]. Some amino acids (Gly, Gin, Asp and Asn) did not provide detectable derivatives and the others led to multiple peaks. Moreover, significant amounts of by-products were produced, which may interfere. Arg provided a single peak, the mass spectrum of which was identical with that of Orn both derivatives resulted from lactam formation. Isoprop derivatives of 23 common amino acids were separated on 5% of-Carbowax 20M on silanized Chromosorb G with temperature programming (50-240°C). 

In principle, both instrumental concepts can be expanded to allow for multiple-stage mass spectrometry, i.e., multiple stages of precursor ion selection followed by product ion detection for successive n generation product ions [6]. While it is convenient to talk about MS/MS, acronyms like MS/MS/MS are clearly out of place. Therefore, it is common practice to use MS, MS, and generally MS" to denote the number of stages of a tandem mass spectrometric experiment. Accordingly, in the sequential fragmentation scheme... 

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