Polymer/salt complexes polar molecule addition

Observations of alkali-metal ion adducts of the type [M+Li]+ [M+Na]+ etc. are common in the desorption ionization (DI) mass spectra of a variety of polar molecules. In fact, alkali-metal ion association reactions are observed with FD ionization, FAB ionization, Cf plasma desorption (PD), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), MALDI, and ESI. Ion yields can be greatly enhanced by addition of alkali-metal salts to the sample. Particularly for the MALDI analysis of synthetic polymers, metal cations are often intentionally added to enhance signals. A qualitative description of the current understanding of formation mechanism of alkali-metal ion complexes from the condensed phase was presented [75]. Knowledge of the ionization mechanisms is important and helpful from the perspective of increasing the analytical utility of the method. 

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