Tandem (quadrupole-time-of-flight) electrospray mass spectrometry of oligo(vinyl acetates) with isopropylol or (1-hydroxyethyl)-2-oxyisopropanyl end groups

Poly(vinyl acetates) with either isopropylol or (1-hydroxyethyl)-2-oxyisopropanyl end groups were analysed by tandem mass spectrometry using a quadrupole-time-of-flight (Q-TOF) instrument. Random scission along the polymer backbone was not observed. Instead the initial scissions were derived from the cleavage of end-group species. The resultant macrocations were subject to further elimination reactions that eventually produced polyene macrocations. A smaller fraction of the initial macrocations also reacted by loss of ketene and this reaction produced macrocations containing vinyl alcohol units.