Sn. Jackson et Kk. Murray, Infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a sulfolane matrix, RAP C MASS, 15(16), 2001, pp. 1448-1452
Infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (IR-MALDI) of the poly
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, and dibenz[a,h]ant
hracene was performed using a 10.6-muM CO2 laser and a liquid matrix. Sulfo
lane (tetrahydrothiophene 1,1-dioxide) was found to be an effective matrix
for PAH ionization: mass spectra obtained with a sulfolane matrix contain a
n intense molecular ion peak; interference from PAH fragment and matrix pea
ks is negligible in all cases. The main limitation of the sulfolane matrix
is sample evaporation after 3 to 5 min in vacuum. This sample lifetime can
be increased to between 15 and 30 min using a 2:1 (v/v) mixture of sulfolan
e and glycerol, but the resulting spectra have greater matrix interference
and decreased shot-to-shot signal stability. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley
& Sons, Ltd.