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Formation of unexpected ions from a first‐generation polyamidoamine dendrimer by use of methanol: an artefact due to electrospray emitter corrosion?
Author(s) -
Maire Florian,
Lange Catherine M.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.4475
Subject(s) - chemistry , electrospray , ion , dendrimer , electrospray ionization , adduct , analytical chemistry (journal) , common emitter , corona discharge , capillary action , corona (planetary geology) , chromatography , polymer chemistry , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , electrode , materials science , composite material , physics , astrobiology , venus
We report the formation of unexpected ions during the analyses of a first‐generation polyamidoamine dendrimer in negative ion mode using an ion trap equipped with an electrospray ionisation source. These surprising ions corresponded to an increase of 12 m/z units over those expected. The formation of the unexpected ions was dependent on the tuning of the solution flow rate and the capillary high voltage. In addition, measurements of unusual value of the current suggested that a reaction was occurring in the corona plasma. The influence of methanol in this phenomenon was demonstrated by using CD 3 OH in the sample preparation. We propose two structures to explain the observed adduct based on the results of MS 2 experiments and by referring to previous work dealing with 12 m/z units addition. We showed that a corona discharge caused by alterations taking place to the electrospray capillary emitter was the origin of these unexpected ions. Finally, we discuss the mechanism involved in the formation of the ions and we propose means to control such artefacts. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.