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Multistep mass spectrometry of heterocyclic amines in a quadrupole ion trap mass analyser
Author(s) -
Toribio Francisca,
Moyano Encarnación,
Puignou Lluís,
Galceran Maria Teresa
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.475
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9888
pISSN - 1076-5174
DOI - 10.1002/jms.340
Subject(s) - chemistry , analyser , mass spectrometry , quadrupole ion trap , ion trap , ion , quadrupole , trap (plumbing) , selected reaction monitoring , chromatography , analytical chemistry (journal) , organic chemistry , tandem mass spectrometry , atomic physics , physics , environmental engineering , engineering
The fragmentation of heterocyclic amines (HAs) in an ion trap was studied by means of the infusion of methanolic solutions containing the compounds under assay, and using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) as ion source. The MS n spectra obtained for compounds included in the same family, either aminoimidazoazaarenes (AIAs) or carbolines, were compared in order to propose fragmentation pathways for each HA. Moreover, labelled AIAs were used to establish the mechanisms. The protonated molecule was always obtained, but subsequent fragmentation was different for both families. In the case of AIAs, major product ions came from the fragmentation of the aminoimidazole moiety, thus the base peak in MS 2 corresponded to the loss of the methyl group, and losses of C 2 NH 3 and CN 2 H 2 were also observed. Further fragmentation occurred in the heterocyclic rings, mainly with losses of HCN and CH 3 CN. For carbolines, the most important product ions came from the loss of ammonia, except for harman and norharman, the loss of a methyl group for methylated carbolines or the loss of diverse fragments from the heterocyclic rings. In some cases, ion–molecule reactions into the ion trap were observed. For instance, for AαC or MeAαC one ion originating from these reactions corresponded to the base peak. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.