Matrix isolation applied to the 252Cf plasma-desorption mass spectrometry of underivatized oligosaccharides.

A number of different low molecular weight and volatile compounds have been tested and compared as matrices in 252Cf plasma-desorption mass spectrometry (PDMS) measurements of oligosaccharides. Some heteroaromatic amines (2-aminothiazole and 3-aminopyridine), hydroxyanthraquinones (alizarin and quinalizarin) and phthaleins (fluorescein) proved to be especially suited to enhancing the quasimolecular ion intensity of oligosaccharides. Discrimination effects could be reduced by matrix addition and thus, quantitative results of PDMS could be improved. Oligosaccharides with broad molecular weight distribution (dextrin 10 and dextran T 1.5) have been successfully analyzed by PDMS. The mass spectra obtained compared quite well with ion chromatograms of the respective oligosaccharides.