ELECTROHYDRODYNAMIC IONIZATION MASS-SPECTROMETRY - PYRIMIDINES, PURINES, NUCLEOSIDES AND NUCLEOTIDES

Electrohydrodynamic ionization mass spectrometry is applied to the analysis to the analysis of one pyrimidine, two purines, one nucleoside and four nucleotides using glycerol as the solvent and hydrochloric acid as the electrolyte. Ions characteristic of the samples are observed. Hydrolyzed products are seen in the nucleoside and a nucleotide, but sample ion fragmentation is not observed. The role of the acid to aid sample dissolution and ionization will be discussed. The previously reported ion beam instability with an HCI electrolyte is found to be due to a low ion concentration in solution. The problem can be overcome by using a mixed LiI/HCI electrolyte. Lithium iodide has been used and the characteristic isotope pattern of the lithium ion aids spectral interpretation. Electrohydrodynamic ionization is shown to be a soft ionization technique and the use of an acidic electrolyte widens the scope of samples that can be analyzed by this technique. Copyright © 1979 Heyden & Son Ltd