Differentiation of Regioisomeric Esters of Sucrose by Ionspray Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Structural characterization and differentiation of distinct regioisomenc esters of sucrose were obtained using lonspray 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.