Characterization of different poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)s via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry

Anja Baumgaertel; Christine Weber; Katrin Knop; Anna Crecelius; Ulrich S Schubert

doi:10.1002/rcm.3933

Characterization of different poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)s via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry

Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2009 Mar;23(6):756-62. doi: 10.1002/rcm.3933.

Authors

Anja Baumgaertel¹, Christine Weber, Katrin Knop, Anna Crecelius, Ulrich S Schubert

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743 Jena, Germany.

PMID: 19224528
DOI: 10.1002/rcm.3933

Abstract

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) coupled with CID (collision-induced dissociation) has been used for the detailed characterization of two poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)s as part of a continuing study of synthetic polymers by MALDI-TOF MS/MS. These experiments provided information about the variety of fragmentation pathways for poly(oxazoline)s. It was possible to show that, in addition to the eliminations of small molecules, like ethene and hydrogen, the McLafferty rearrangement is also a possible fragmentation route. A library of fragmentation pathways for synthetic polymers was also constructed and such a library should enable the fast and automated data analysis of polymers in the future.