Determination and enhancement of stereospecific decompositions via triple mass spectrometry: Formation of untypical protonated precursor molecules

A tetraquadrupole mass spectrometer with consecutive surface-induced dissociation/collisionally activated dissociation (SID/CAD) capability has been used to investigate the decompositional behaviour of bifunctional terpenes. SID and CAD yield similar daughter-ion spectra of protonated molecules generated by ammonia chemical ionization. These collision mass spectra of MH⁺ contain diagnostic daughter ions which can be used to distinguish diastereomeric terpenols. Pronounced stereochemical effects underlying specific decompositions of the ammonium adduct and protonated molecule forms of the bifunctional terpenes have been attributed to the formation of protonated molecules of lower stability produced via decomposition of M + NH₄]⁺. Evidence supporting the existence of such unusual protonated molecules formed via collision is given in the grand-daughter spectra of M + NH₄]⁺. Triple mass Spectrometry is shown to promote the Stereospecific formation and subsequent diagnostic decomposition of these singular protonated forms, thus improving the ability to differentiate the diastereomers.