European Journal of Mass Spectrometry - Abstract of A comparison between matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography in the mass characterisation of synthetic polymers with narrow molecular-mass distributions: Poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene)

A comparison between matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography in the mass characterisation of synthetic polymers with narrow molecular-mass distributions: Poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene)

Paul M. Lloyd, Kevin G. Suddaby, Julie E. Varney, Elaine Scrivener, Peter J. Derrick^* and David M. Haddleton^*
Department of Chemistry and Institute of Mass Spectrometry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

A series of poly(methyl methacrylate)s and poly(styrene)s (masses 1000–12,000 Da) with narrow molecular-mass distributions have been analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography (SEC).The resultant number average M_n, mass (weight) average M_w, and z average M_z molecular masses as determined from the two techniques are presented and compared. These data show MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to be in good agreement, typically to within 10% for the analyses of these types of polymers.