Use of Mass Spectrometry in the Characterization of Polymers Emphasizing Metal-Containing Condensation Polymers

Abstract

Suitable structure characterization is assisted through the use of mass spectrometry. Polymer fragmentation can be achieved in many ways including application of heat and ionizing radiation. MALDI MS allows routine analysis of polymers allowing identification of several repeat units. Graphite as a matrix allows higher mass ions to be created with less interfering ion fragments formed in comparison to more utilized matrix materials.

Synthesis of organotin polymers from 2-ketoglutaric acid and their ability to inhibit the growth of human cancer cell lines

“…Loss of the organic substitutes on the metal atom can occur and appear only at the site of chain scission [24][25][26][27][28]. This is found here.…”

“…Recently we have been employing graphite as the matrix material because it gives good results with few interfering ion fragments produced above 500 mass which is the typical lower mass range employed in our studies [27,28]. Two general MALDI MS modes were employed.…”

Synthesis of Water-Soluble Group 4 Metallocene and Organotin Polyethers and Their Ability to Inhibit Cancer

“…This creates a fragmentation of the polymer chain, and it is these fragments that are employed to identify the basic repeat unit. This approach has been reviewed [28][29][30]. Even with this problem, we have been able to identify fragments to 30,000 Da, though we routinely look at ion fragment clusters from 500 to 5000 Da.…”

“…Our approach is to initially evaluate PEGs of varying length as co-monomers with camphoric acid to form products and then test the products for water solubility and ability to inhibit cancer cell lines (Figure 4). Some of these products exhibit good thermal stability to 1500 °C so that a simple CH analysis is not satisfactory for structural analysis [30]. Since neither of the Lewis bases have an element that is unique to it, we have begun using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the percentage of metal in our products.…”

“…Since neither of the Lewis bases have an element that is unique to it, we have begun using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the percentage of metal in our products. From this information, the amount of both Lewis bases in the product can be Some of these products exhibit good thermal stability to 1500 • C so that a simple CH analysis is not satisfactory for structural analysis [30]. Since neither of the Lewis bases have an element that is unique to it, we have begun using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the percentage of metal in our products.…”