Multimatrix Variation Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry as a Tool for Determining the Bonding of Nitrogen Atoms in Alkaloids

[Image: see text] The reactivity of alkaloids in dehydrogenation was investigated using multimatrix variation matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) of over 20 different alkaloids with six matrices. The dehydrogenated molecular ions [M – H](+) generated by in-source decay were detected in the MALDI mass spectra of some types of alkaloids such as reserpine. The dehydrogenation proceeded at the cyclic tertiary amine rather than double-bonded nitrogen atoms and indole rings involved in the electron-delocalized systems. The stable protonated primary amines hindered dehydrogenation. The laser-induced dehydrogenation correlated with the chemical properties and structures of alkaloids. Alkaloids were classified into three types by the ratio of dehydrogenation by comparing the relative abundances of [M – H](+), [M](•+), and [M + H](+) ions in α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid and 5-formylsalicylic acid matrices. Structural isomers were also discriminated by this method of analyzing the three molecular ions’ ratio using multimatrix variation MALDI-MS.