The reaction intermediate spectrum. A new type of experiment in tandem mass spectrometry

A new scan is described which responds to ions that are intermediates in the dissociation of a mass-selected parent ion (m_p) to give a mass-selected daughter ion (m_d). The scan gives a simple mass v. abundance output for ions which satisfy this condition. It is implemented here on a BEQQ hybrid mass spectrometer using, in sequence, collision-induced dissociation occurring at high energy in the first reaction region, and low-energy collisional activation in the collision quadrupole. The experiment provides information on reaction sequences not available from single scans of other types. In the several cases examined, it is demonstrated that, among many conceivable fragmentation routes connecting a parent ion with a particular fragment ion, only a few are significant. Examination of reaction intermediate spectra also appears to be a fruitful new approach to mechanistic questions, as illustrated by consideration of the behavior of several isomeric octanones. These new spectra also have analytical value: they show good signal-to-noise ratios and allow ready distinction between isobaric and isomeric ions. A comparison of the reaction intermediate spectrum with a daughter spectrum obtained by the B/E linked-scanning technique reveals the contributions of artifact peaks which result from poor parent ion mass resolution in the latter. Reaction intermediate spectra combine information from the daughter spectra of m_p and the parent spectra of m_d and, as a specified portion of this data domain, have unique characteristics.