DIFFERENTIATION OF REGIOISOMERIC ESTERS OF SUCROSE BY IONSPRAY TANDEMMASS-SPECTROMETRY

Structural characterization and differentiation of distinct regioisome ric esters of sucrose were obtained using ionspray ionization and low energy tandem mass spectrometry. Low energy CAD MS/MS analyses of the protonated molecules [M + H]+ provided characteristic fingerprint patt erns, and permitted differentiation of the various regioisomers. MS/MS analyses of selected intermediate fragment ions formed during the ion ization process provided additional structural data, and established t he fragmentation routes of their [M + H]+ precursors.