Structural „memory effects” influencing decompositions of glucose alkoxide anions produced from monoterpene glycoside isomers in tandem mass spectrometry

Isomeric glycoconjugates have been distinguished using desorption negative-ion chemical ionization/tandem mass spectrometry (DNCI–MS/MS). The structure of the leaving terpene influences the orientation of consecutive decompositions during collisionally activated decomposition (CAD) of [M–H]− ions which pass through a glucose alkoxide intermediate ion. This apparent „memory effect” can be rationalized by considering the production of anion-induced dipole complexes.