CE/electrospray ionization-MS analysis of underivatized d/l-amino acids and several small neurotransmitters at attomole levels through the use of 18-crown-6-tetracarboxylic acid as a complexation reagent/background electrolyte.

摘要: A new capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry technique is introduced for attomole detection of primary amines (including several neurotransmitters), amino acids, and their d/l enantiomers in one run through the use a complexation reagent while using only ∼1 nL sample. The uses underivatized acids conjunction with an capillary, which significantly reduces cost analysis time. It was found that when (+)-(18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid (18-C-6-TCA, MW 440) used as background electrolyte/complexation during electrophoresis/electrospray ionization-mass (CE/ESI-MS) stable complexes were formed between 18-C-6-TCA molecules. These complexes, exhibited high ionization efficiencies, detectable at levels most acids. limits AA/18-C-6-TCA on average more than 2 orders magnitude lower ...