Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry for poly(propylene oxide) starting and end group analysis

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was applied to study poly(propylene oxide) obtained in the presence of potassium hydride. It was found that the polyether chains possess different starting groups, i.e. those situated at the beginning of the polymer backbone. These were isopropoxy, hydroxy, methoxy and allyloxy groups when the polymerization was stopped by the addition of methyl iodide. Each macromolecule was terminated by the methoxy group in this case. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.