ALKALI-METAL CATIONIZATION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE COLLISION-INDUCED DECOMPOSITION OF TAXOL

The effect of alkali metal cationization on the collision-induced decomposition of taxol is discussed. The facile elimination of H2O observed from the [M + H](+) ion does not occur from the corresponding [M + Met] + ion. some of the major decomposition pathways appear to be charge-remote fragmentations involving eliminations of the functional groups on the taxane ring or the cleavage of the side-chain with retention of the metal ion on either the side-chain or the taxane ring. The collision-induced decompositions of the lithiated side-chain reflect multi-site binding of the lithium ion with the basic centres in the side-chain.