Infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a sulfolane matrix

Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2001;15(16):1448-52. doi: 10.1002/rcm.389.

Abstract

Infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (IR-MALDI) of the polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene was performed using a 10.6-microm CO2 laser and a liquid matrix. Sulfolane (tetrahydrothiophene 1,1-dioxide) was found to be an effective matrix for PAH ionization: mass spectra obtained with a sulfolane matrix contain an intense molecular ion peak; interference from PAH fragment and matrix peaks 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 sulfolane and glycerol, but the resulting spectra have greater matrix interference and decreased shot-to-shot signal stability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anthracenes / chemistry
  • Benz(a)Anthracenes / chemistry
  • Benzo(a)pyrene / chemistry
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods
  • Thiophenes

Substances

  • Anthracenes
  • Benz(a)Anthracenes
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Thiophenes
  • benzotriphenylene
  • Benzo(a)pyrene
  • anthracene
  • sulfolane