Noncovalent Complexation of Saccharides with Ions and Isomer Discrimination for Saccharides

Abstract

Isomer analysis such as epimer identification of saccharides is one of the important subjects in mass spectrometry. Since isomers have the same mass, they cannot be distinguished by simple mass spectrometry only. Generally, the collision induced decomposition method is used for isomer analysis. A saccharide and a cation form a complex ion within selectivity. Information on the saccharide epimers is obtained from observation of the complexation behaviors with the cation in mass spectrometry. In this commentary, a method of analyzing isomers of saccharide derivatives is described, based on the complexation of saccharide derivatives with cations.