Detection of inorganic species by chemical reaction laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry

The oxidation numbers of metals in inorganic compounds were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) by using their acetylacetonates, which are soluble in acetone. For the MALDI analysis of inorganic species insoluble in common solvents used for matrices, such as acetone, methanol, water, etc., a suspension method of sample preparation was developed. Turbid suspensions of inorganic species in the solvent were spotted on the sample holder with chelating reagents, as in the conventional sample preparation for MALDI-MS. Chemical reaction between the inorganic species and the chelating reagents occurred in the plume after irradiation by laser light. Metal oxides were also analyzed by this method, and samples with different oxidation numbers gave different mass spectra. These results suggest that many other metal oxides with different oxidation numbers could be identified if suitable chelating reagents are chosen for sample preparation for MALDI-MS.