This study presents a novel method for determining the molecular weights of low molecular weight (MW) energetic compounds through their complexes of -cyclodextrin (-CD) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) in a mass range of 500 to 1700 Da, avoiding matrix interference. The MWs of one composite explosive composed of 2,6-DNT, TNT, and RDX, one propellant with unknown components, and 14 single-compound explosives (RDX, HMX, 3,4-DNT, 2,6-DNT, 2,5-DNT, 2,4,6-TNT, TNAZ, DNI, BTTN, NG, TO, NTO, NP, and 662) were measured. The molecular recognition and inclusion behavior of -CD to energetic materials (EMs) were investigated. The results show that (1) the established method is sensitive, simple, accurate, and suitable for determining the MWs of low-MW single-compound explosives and energetic components in composite explosives and propellants; and (2) -CD has good inclusion and modular recognition abilities to the above EMs. has become a powerful instrument for analyzing large synthetic polymers and biomacromolecules. However, for low-mass analytes-especially compounds that have a mass-to-charge of less than 500 Da-it has been a challenge. Because most of the molecular weights (MWs) of the currently used matrixes are less than 500 Da and because, during laser irradiation, they also act as their own matrixes, a variety of matrix-related ions are produced. Therefore, the use of MALDI-TOF-MS has been limited to the analysis of low-mass analytes. As a consequence, many analysts and experts of MALDI-TOF-MS have made considerable efforts and approaches to overcome this problem [1][2][3][4][5].Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides that have ␣-d-glucose units that are connected through (1¡4) linkages. The most common forms of cyclodextrin are ␣-, -, and ␥-cyclodextrin (cyclomaltohexa-, hepta-, and octaoses), which contain six, seven, and eight glucose units, respectively. The structures of these molecules are toroidal, containing an apolar cavity with primary hydroxyl groups lying on the outside and the secondary hydroxyl groups being located inside [6,7]. The guest molecules that have a suitable size and shape can be incorporated into the cyclodextrin cavity to form inclusion complexes. The formation of these complexes has been attributed to weak interactions, including van der Waals interactions, hydrophobic effects, and hydrogen bonding. The ability of cyclodextrins to form inclusion complexes with a variety of guest molecules has attracted widespread interest in academic research and industrial applications. Cyclodextrin complexes have been studied by using different physical methods and spectroscopic methods. However, the analysis of low-mass analytes by MALDI-TOF-MS, especially those in the mass range below 500 Da, has been a major challenge [8 -15].In this paper, a novel method of using the molecular recognition of -cyclodextrin (-CD) to determine the mass of low-MW explosives by MALDI-TOF-MS is established.