| Abstract: | An evaluation of the TAGA 6000 tandem quadrupole MS/MS capabilities for the study of the formation of adduct ions is presented. It is shown that under chemical ionization conditions the protonated molecular ions of esters react with neutral ammonia inside the collision cell of the instrument to yield adduct ions. Under the same reaction conditions the molecular ions obtained under electron impact conditions do not yield any adduct. Although it is not yet clear whether the adduct structure is of the cluster or covalently bonded type, the experimental results argue mainly in favor of the latter. The center-of-mass energy range usable for the formation of adduct ions is narrow and an order of magnitude lower than the energy required for collision-induced dissociation. However, despite the weak parent ion center-of-mass energies used, the spectra exhibit fragments characteristic of the adduct ion structures. Finally, by controlling the parent ion center-of-mass axial kinetic energy, the number of parent ions and the target thickness, it is possible to measure and control all the usual physicochemical parameters for adduct ion formation. |
