Ion-molecule reactions for mass spectrometric identification of functional groups in protonated oxygen-containing monofunctional compounds.

Protonated oxygen-containing monofunctional compounds react with selected methoxyborane reagents by proton transfer followed by nucleophilic substitution of methanol at the boron atom in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. The derivatized oxygen functionality can be identified by H/D exchange, collision-activated dissociation, or both. This information on the identity of the functionalities in the analyte, in conjunction with molecular formula information obtained from exact mass measurements on either the protonated or derivatized analyte, facilitates structure elucidation of unknown organic compounds in a mass spectrometer.