High Kinetic Energy Ion Mobility Spectrometry – Mass Spectrometry investigations of four inhalation anaesthetics: isoflurane, enflurane, sevoflurane and desflurane

Here we report the first High Kinetic Energy-Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometric (HiKE-IMS-MS) investigations involving four fluranes; isoflurane, enflurane, sevoflurane and desflurane. Unlike standard (atmospheric pressure) IMS, HiKE-IMS can detect these compounds in positive ion mode. This is because its low-pressure environment (∼ 14 mbar) associated short drift times ensure reagent ions O2+• H3O+ are present reaction region, react with fluranes by dissociative charge proton transfer, respectively. However, their intensities very dependent on value of reduced electric field (E/N) applied humidity air region HiKE-IMS. In this paper explore potential use for quality control breath analysis fluranes. To help interpretation mobility spectra, hence ion-flurane chemistry occurring a was coupled to Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer so that m/z values both product contained within various peaks observed could be identified high level confidence. The dependencies as functions E/N (30–115 Td) reported. A number have been only under low conditions (H2O volume-mixing ratio ∼ 100 ppmv), including CHF2+ CHFCl + isoflurane CHF2+, CF3+ C3H2F5O+ desflurane, CH3O+, C3H3F4O+, C4H3F6O+ C4H3F6O+(H2O) sevoflurane. It interesting note CHFCl+ shorter than measured O2+•. explained resonant transfer processes region: O2 ⇌ O2+•.O2