Liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (LSIMS) and collision-induced dissociation (CID) were used for the characterization of sulfonamide derivatives of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP). The spectra obtained using LSIMS show abundant molecular ions and fragment ions from losses of the sulfonamide moieties. The main fragmentation observed in the LSI mass spectra and in the CID spectra of the protonated or cationized molecules involves the loss of one sulfonamide group. In addition, in the CID spectra of these compounds the fragment ions formed by the elimination of two, three and/or four sulfonamide groups are also observed. The CID spectra of the protonated or cationized molecules of these derivatives do not display the ions formed by the cleavage of the S - N bond which have been reported for other sulfonamide compounds. The LSI mass spectra and CID spectra of sulfonamide derivatives of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin provide an easy and reliable means of identification of the number and nature of sulfonamide groups in the porphyrinic ring.