Mass spectrometry of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-glycose containing disaccharides

Abstract

The mass spectra of six trimethylsilyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-aldohexosyl-aldohexoses with (1 -> 2), (1 -> 3), (1 -> 4) and (1 -> 6) glycosidic linkages were compared. The spectra could be divided in two main groups on the basis of the ratio of the intensities of the peaks at m/e 217 and m/e 204 (217204): (1 -> 2), (1 -> 3) disaccharides and (1 -> 4), (1 -> 6) disaccharides. (1 -> 2) and (1 -> 3) disaccharides could be distinguished on the basis of some ratios of peak intensities, (1 -> 4) and (1 -> 6) disaccharides on the basis of the presence or absence of one intense peak (m/e 552). Further, the mass spectrum of an aldohexosyl-(1 -> 6)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-aldohexose is discussed. In all cases the sequence of the monomers could be determined by using the sum of the intensities of two related peaks.