MATRIX EFFECTS ON MATRIX-ASSISTED-LASER-DESORPTION IONIZATION MASS-SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS OF DENDRIMERS WITH A PYRIDINE-BASED SKELETON/

Dendritic polypyridines were analysed by laser desorption (LD) and mat rix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. Fo r all the compounds examined, readily detectable cationized molecular species have been obtained under LD conditions, while for MALDI a stro ng matrix effect has been found, leading to fragments related to the o riginal skeleton. To investigate this aspect, three differently branch ed dendrimers were analysed using three different matrices at differen t matrix/sample molar ratios. The fragmentation yield was found to be strongly dependent on the matrix used, on the matrix/sample molar rati os and on the molecular structure of the dendrimer, (C) 1998 John Wile y & Sons, Ltd.