Evans C S, Startin J R, Goodall D M, Keely B J
Chemistry Department, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2001;15(9):699-707. doi: 10.1002/rcm.287.
A detailed MS(n) study on an ion trap instrument of the quaternary ammonium pesticides paraquat, diquat, difenzoquat, mepiquat and chlormequat reveals a number of ions not reported previously, and has allowed examination of the fragmentation pathways. A number of transitions that are highly specific to each quat have been identified. Optimal ion trap operating conditions determined using Simplex optimisation can promote either detection of a particular fragmentation transition or a range of MS/MS product ions with a high overall signal response. Thus, fragmentation conditions were optimised to enhance the specificity or sensitivity of MS/MS methods.
