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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Technical Approach for Structural Analysis of an Unknown Compound in Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid based on Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 3, 2026
Structural analysis of 2,6-[bis(alkyloxy)methyl]-phenyltin derivatives using electrospray ionization mass
Lenka Kolárová1, Michal Holcapek, Roman Jambor
1Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, nám. Cs. legií 565, 53210 Pardubice, Czech Republic.
Abstract:
Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry was applied to the structural analysis of 23 2,6-[bis(alkyloxy)methyl]phenyltin(IV) derivatives. The mass spectra were measured in both polarity modes and multistage tandem mass spectrometric (MS(n)) measurements were performed on the ion trap analyser for positively charged tin-containing ions. The sum of complementary ions observed in the positive-ion mode (i.e. [M-R(3)](+) ion) and in the negative-ion mode (i.e. [R(3)](-) ion) permits molecular mass determination in spite of the fact that the molecular adducts were often missing even in the first-order mass spectra. The subsequent fragmentation of [M-R(3)](+) ions studied by MS(n) and the correlation of observed fragment ions with the expected structures of synthesized organotin(IV) compounds allowed us to understand the fragmentation behaviour and the mechanism of the ion formation for studied compounds. The typical neutral losses are alkenes, alcohols and aldehydes. The fragmentation pattern of one selected compound was supported by MS(n) measurements of an isotopically labelled analogue to confirm unusual ion-molecule reactions of some fragment ions with water in the ion trap.
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