[Mass spectrometric determination of polyfunctionalized nucleoside phosphoramidites using LSI/FAB]

Nucleoside phosphoramidites (PAs) are the most widely used building blocks in the contemporary solid-phase synthesis of oligonucleotides. Accurate molecular weight measurements of such acid-labile compounds may be easily determined in a matrix system comprising triethanolamine (TEOA)-NaCl by liquid secondary ionization mass spectrometry (LSIMS) or fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS), using a double-focusing mass spectrometer. The present method rapidly and easily measures the accurate MWs of various PAs as adduct ions [M+Na]⁺, affording molecular formulas in place of elemental analysis. Further, the intensities by LSIMS of [M+Na]⁺ were found to be enhanced to the highest degree by adjustment of the mole ratio of PA and NaCl, fixing the amount of TEOA. In addition, the effects of the metal ion in the matrix were investigated. The present method is a powerful tool for the mass spectral identification of polyfunctionalized nucleoside PAs.