The use of tandem-mass spectrometry for pilot identification

Summary The direct analysis of mixtures by tandem-mass spectrometry assisted by off-line liquid chromatographymass spectrometry is already established as a rapid specific and extremely sensitive method that can be applied to samples of a variety of types for example, to analyses of main compounds and by-products in reaction mixtures, to products in medicated solutions or to fermentation products in more or less complex matrices. The techniques are demonstrated as pilot methods for obtaining structural information for identification or structure elucidation.