The reactions of a series of terpenoids with H3O+, NO+and O2+ studied using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry

The reactions of H3O+, NO+ and O 2+ with twelve terpenoids and one terpene, all of which occur naturally in plants and which possess important smell and flavourant properties, were characterized using Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS). The H3O+ reactions resulted primarily in the formation of the proton transfer product and occasionally in a water elimination product. The NO+ reactions instead generated the charge transfer product or NO+ adducts, and occasionally alkyl fragments, or resulted in hydride abstraction. Reaction with O2+ caused a higher fragmentation of the terpenoids with the molecular ion being the minor product of most reactions. Identification and quantification of each compound in complex mixtures are probably possible in most cases using the H3O + and/or NO+ precursors while O2+ may be useful for isomer discrimination. Our data suggests that SIFT-MS may be a useful tool for the rapid analysis of these compounds in plants and derived foodstuffs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.