ELECTROSPRAY MASS-SPECTROMETRY OF NEUTRAL AND ACIDIC OLIGOSACCHARIDES - METHYLATED CYCLODEXTRINS AND IDENTIFICATION OF UNKNOWNS DERIVED FROM FRUIT MATERIAL

A qualitative study of the characteristics in the mass spectrometric analysis of various neutral and acidic oligosaccharides using electrospray ionization is reported. Experiments were performed in both positive- and negative-ion modes. In the positive-ion mode molecular mass information for neutral non-derivatized oligosaccharides could be obtained UP to M(r) 4000. The method was applied to the determination of the degree of methylation of methylated beta-cyclodextrins and the identification of unknown oligosaccharides enzymatically derived from pear and apple fruit material.