Applications of artificial intelligence for chemical inference—X : Intsum. A data interpretation and summary program applied to the collected mass spectra of estrogenic steroids

A method for systematic interpretation and summary of evidence found for all possible mass spectral fragmentations of a molecule or set of related molecules is described. The method is embodied in a computer program (INTSUM) which interprets, in terms of fragmentation processes, mass spectral data collected on known compounds. Utilizing high resolution mass spectra from 47 estrogenic steroids, the method is verified and new findings are discussed. Finally, the method is used to explore the fragmentations of equilenins and several acetate and benzoate ester derivatives.