Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-collision induced dissociation of poly(styrene)

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-collision induced dissociation (MALDI-CID) has been employed for the analysis of poly(styrene) in a tandem hybrid sector-time of flight instrument. Spectra are shown for adducts of poly(styrene) with copper and silver ions. The distributions of fragment ion peaks were found to be consistent from precursor ions containing both metal ions. It is shown how the masses of the end groups of the polymer may be inferred from the mass-to-charge ratios of two of the series of ion peaks that are seen in the MALDI-CID spectra. Mechanisms are proposed for the formation of some of the other series of ion peaks that are observed in the spectra. (C) 1998 American Society for Mass Spectrometry.