SIMULTANEOUS MONITORING FOR PARENT IONS OF TARGETED DAUGHTER IONS - A METHOD FOR RAPID SCREENING USING MASS-SPECTROMETRY MASS-SPECTROMETRY

A novel method of operation possible with some, but not all, types of Instruments capable of mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry is demonstrated. The method involves operatingthe first stage mass analyzer as a high-pass filter while a second stage of mass analysis isused to detect the daughter Ions from a targeted compound class that fall below the arbitrary cutoff mass. This method can be employed in those cases where a parent Ion scan is useful. The present method, with some sacrifice In specificity, provides a roughly 10-fold increase In parent Ion transmission relative to that for either conventional daughter ion analysis orthe parent Ion scan. This mode of operation is demonstrated with anions derived from 2,4-dlnltrotoluene (DNT), 1,3,5-trinitroazacyclohexane (RDX), a heterocyclic nltramine, and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), a nitrate ester. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.