Metallocenes as cationizing agents in the characterization of polystyrenes and polyethylene glycols by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Very little work has been done on exploring the transition metals as suitable cationizing agents for the analysis of polymers by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF). This paper reports on the characterization of polystyrenes and polyethylene glycols with select metallocenes as cationizing agents. It was found that ferrocene, nickelocene and cobaltocene did indeed cationize the polymer and that, at higher molecular weights, very little if any metal clusters were observed. It was also found that the signal intensity was improved for the higher molecular weight polymers.