Fragmentation patterns of boron‐dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes by electrospray ionization high‐resolution tandem mass spectrometry

摘要: Rationale 4,4-Difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene derivatives (BODIPYs) are fluorescent organic dyes that widely used as non-radioactive labels in biological analyses. The fragmentation behaviour of ten structurally related BODIPYs was studied using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), to support the structural elucidation process during synthesis. Methods The were investigated by electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS/MS, utilizing collision-induced dissociation (CID) data from triple quadrupole MS and high-resolution, accurate CID Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) experiments. Results Unusual radical molecular cations ([M]+•) formed directly ESI process. These species dissociated into a large range product ions subsequent experiments. Superimposed dissociations originating parallel [M]+• [M+H]+ decompositions significantly complicated interpretation MS/MS spectra. Conclusions Detailed mechanisms proposed this study for BODIPY dyes. elemental formulae unambiguously assigned FTICR-MS unique fragment discovered rapid identification methyl, ethyl, butyl, tert-butyl, phenyl substituents individual synthesis mixtures low-resolution MS. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.