MATRIX-ISOLATION APPLIED TO THE CF-252 PLASMA-DESORPTION MASS-SPECTROMETRY OF UNDERIVATIZED OLIGOSACCHARIDES

A number of different low molecular weight and volatile compounds have been tested and compared as matrices in Cf-252 plasma-desorption mass spectrometry (PDMS) measurements of oligosaccharides. Some heteroarom atic amines (2-aminothiazole and 3-aminopyridine), hydroxyanthraquinon es (alizarin and quinalizarin) and phthaleins (fluorescein) proved to be especially suited to enhancing the quasimolecular ion intensity of oligosaccharides. Discrimination effects could be reduced by matrix ad dition and thus, quantitative results of PDMS could be improved. Oligo saccharides with broad molecular weight distribution (dextrin 10 and d extran T 1.5) have been successfully analyzed by PDMS. The mass spectr a obtained compared quite well with ion chromatograms of the respectiv e oligosaccharides.