Metallocenes as cationizing agents in the characterization of polystyrenesand polyethylene glycols by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Very little work has been done on exploring the transition metals as suitab le cationizing agents for the analysis of polymers by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF). This paper reports on th e characterization of polystyrenes and polyethylene glycols with select met allocenes as cationizing agents. It was found that ferrocene, nickelocene a nd cobaltocene did indeed cationize the polymer and that, at higher molecul ar weights, very little if any metal clusters were observed. It was also fo und that the signal intensity was improved for the higher molecular weight polymers. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.