The use of dynamically programmed scans to generate parent‐ion tandem mass spectra with the ion‐trap mass spectrometer

Abstract

AbstractA method is described whereby, under software control, the scan function employed to collisionally excite ions in an ion‐trap mass spectrometer is regulated so as to obtain parent ion (fixed product) tandem mass spectral data. At the same time, constant neutral‐loss information is also provided. Key features are the automatic ‘intelligent’ selection of parent ions from observation of the initial mass spectrum and the scanning of the applied ‘tickle’ frequency in order to locate the precise resonance points for excitation of these ions. Results for the model compounds perfluorotributylamine (‘FC43’) and n‐butylbenzene are reported and complicating effects such as the unimolecular decay of the precursor ion species and charge exchange between product ions and the original sample material are discussed.