Multi-stage Mass Spectrometry up to MS4 on a QTof System

K E Y W O R D S T-WaveTM ion mobility, IMS, MS, MS, structure elucidation A P P L I C AT IO N B E N E F I T S This application note illustrates how multi-stage mass spectra up to MS can be generated on a SYNAPT G2 HDMS System in a single experiment. This experiment avoids the need to trigger on, isolate, and fragment specific ions, as is done in directed MS methods. Moreover, the duty cycle remains constant, differing from the performance of ion-trap instruments, where the duty cycle for each transition decreases as the number of monitored ions/ transitions increases. IN T RO DU C T IO N The integration of ion mobility separations (IMS) with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry offers multiple and distinct capabilities and advantages. First, as an orthogonal dimension of separation, IMS can enhance selectivity in MS and MS data sets. Second, IMS can serve as a powerful tool for structure elucidation, as indicated by its ability to characterize positional isomers of metabolites from generated collision cross-section measurements. Finally, when combined with tandem-MS, IMS enables multi-stage mass analysis.