Sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation of linear,substituted and cyclic polyesters using a 9.4 T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer

The fragment ions obtained from sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation of linear polyesters, substituted polyesters and cyclic polyesters have been characterized using a 9.4 T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Charge-induced and charge-remote fragmentation channels, together with the participation of other nucleophilic groups, are proposed for the substituted polyesters. The linear polyesters were found to fragment at equivalent positions along the polymer chain whereas, under the experimental conditions employed, the cyclic polyester produced a single fragment.