Elemental Composition Determination of Polymer End Groups Using Accurate Mass
MSTips No. 357
A molecular weight of a polymer species can be confirmed by combining soft ionization methods such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) field desorption (FD), electrospray ionization (ESI), and a high resolution mass spectrometer capable of accurate mass measurements, such as a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS). From the obtained mass spectrum, it is possible to identify polymer species (monomer identification), identify differences in end groups, and calculate the molecular weight distribution of each polymer series. Recently, it has been possible to efficiently overview the information in the mass spectra of complex polymer mixtures using a Kendrick Mass Defect (KMD) analysis software, msRepeatFinder. Determining the elemental composition of the end groups of the polymer series identified in this way is essential for confirming the state of polymer synthesis reactions, quality control of products, and analysis of degradation mechanisms. In this report, we introduce the procedure for determining the elemental compositions of the end groups from the accurate mass information of the polymer.