Analytical applications of ion-molecule reactions using quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry

This project describes various applications of gas-phase ion-molecule reactions using quadrupole ion-trap mass spectrometer for solving current analytical challenges. In the present dissertation, the following topics are presented: (1) Modifications to the commercially available quadrupole ion-trap mass spectrometer to enable performance of ion-molecule reactions; (2) Ion-molecule reactions for investigation of cation-pi interactions; (3) Coupling of liquid chromatography separations with ion-molecule reactions for selective detection of phosphopeptides in mixtures; (4) Ion-molecule reactions of various peptides with selected boron- and silicon-containing neutral compounds for specific detection of phosphorylation; (5) Differentiation of carbohydrate phosphates and sulfates by gas-phase ion-molecule reactions.