Methods for the Analysis of Hydrocarbon Polymers by Matrix‐assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time‐of‐flight Mass Spectrometry

With the addition of silver acetoacetonate to matrices of trans-3-indoleacrylic acid or 1,4-di-(2-(5-phenyloxazolyl))benzene, methods have been developed for the analysis of hydrocarbon polymers by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Silver-cationized molecular ions were produced for polymers of styrene, butadiene and isoprene up to mass 125 000 Da. For lower-mass styrene polymers, the resolved oligomer molecular ions provide information concerning the end group. Average molecular weights determined by MALDI-TOF are in good agreement with values from gel-permeation chromatography.