Mass spectra of fatty acid derivatives, of isopropylidenes of novel glyceryl ethers of cod muscle and of phenolic acetates obtained with the Finnigan MAT Ion Trap Detector.

The applicability of the Finnigan MAT Ion Trap Detector (ITD) mass spectrometer for structure determination in some selected fatty acids and their derivatives has been investigated. Isopropylidene derivatives of novel glyceryl ethers isolated from cod flesh and of phenolic acetates are included to indicate the potential for diverse structures and to clarify the protonation of ions. The ITD is a simple and unsophisticated gas liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer, but the spectra obtained are in most respects comparable to those from more conventional electron impact mass spectrometers. However, due to the comparatively high background pressure (approximately 10(-3) torr) in the ionization chamber of the ITD, there is a tendency for both neutral and ionized molecules to acquire protons from other molecules or fragments through collision. In many cases, the molecular ion was observed as the protonated molecular ion (M + 1), as in chemical ionization mass spectrometry. These interactions can be minimized if the sample load is decreased. Phenolic acetates exhibit not only protonation of the molecular ion, but also protonation of stable fragmented neutral molecules or ions.