DIFFERENTIATION OF REGIOISOMERIC ESTERS OF SUCROSE BY IONSPRAY TANDEM MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Structural characterization and differentiation of distinct regioisomeric esters of sucrose were obtained using ionspray ionization and low energy tandem mass spectrometry. Low energy CAD MS/MS analyses of the protonated molecules [M + H]+ provided characteristic fingerprint patterns, and permitted differentiation of the various regioisomers. MS/MS analyses of selected intermediate fragment ions formed during the ionization process provided additional structural data, and established the fragmentation routes of their [M + H]+ precursors.