Electrospray ionization mass spectral 3nvestigations on multi-nuclear complexes of an azacryptand

Abstract The electrospray ionization (ES) mass spectrum of a trisodium azacryptate derived from a template reaction of sodium 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenolate (sdmp) with 2,2′,2″-triaminoethylamine (tren) was investigated and compared with those by fast atom bombardment (FAB), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electronic ionization (EI) methods. Dinuclear transition metal complexes of this hexaimine macrobicyclic ligand obtained by transmetallation were also studied by ES mass spectra. An [M 2 L] + species has been observed for divalent metal complexes, and an [MLH] + species for a trivalent metal complex. The possible mechanism of the fragmentation process is discussed.