Simultaneous determination of substituent patterns in partially acid hydrolyzed O-Me/O-Me-d(3)-cellulose and quantification of the obtained oligomers by HPLC-ESI-MS.

Substituent patterns in oligosaccharide derivatives obtained from methyl cellulose were determined up to DP10 by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry employing separation of the oligomer fractions by HPLC. Oligosaccharides were labeled with meta-aminobenzoic acid after perdeuteromethylation and partial hydrolysis of methyl cellulose, enabling simultaneous quantification according to DP by HPLC/UV. Control of the HPLC-method was performed with a defined oligomer mixture obtained from β-cyclodextrin. Results from LC-ESI-MS are discussed in comparison with those from syringe pump injection and compared to a calculated pattern for a random distribution. Programing of instrumental parameters optimized for each DP and avoidance of competition of successively eluting analytes in the electrospray process allowed extension of the established method for determination of the substitution pattern of cellulose derivatives along the polymer chain from DP5 to DP10 and thus a significant gain of information.