Off-line combination of reversed-phase liquid chromatography and laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry with seamless post-source decay fragment ion analysis for characterization of square-planar nickel(II) complexes

Characterization of square-planar nickel(II) complexes of the Schiff base of (S)-N-benzylproline (2-benzoylphenyl)amide and various amino acids that are used as efficient alpha-amino acids synthons was carried out using laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI-TOF MS) in off-line combination with liquid chromatography. A mixture of four square-planar nickel(II) complexes was separated using reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) and the separated fractions from the chromatographic run were spotted on the metal target directly from the column outlet using a lab-made sample deposition device. The separated fractions were then analyzed by LDI-TOF MS. Seamless postsource decay (sPSD) fragment ion analysis was used for their structural characterization, which made possible the confirmation of expected chemical structures of the analyzed compounds. The off-line combination of the separation by RPLC and analysis by LDI-TOF MS allowed successful separation, sensitive detection and structure elucidation of the square-planar nickel(II) complexes.