Chiral molecular recognition for the detection and analysis of enantiomers by mass spectrometric methods

As of late, mass spectrometric methods for analysis of enantiomer discriminating systems have received considerable attention. In the last ten years, specific methods focused on measuring enantioselectivities via diastereomeric host–guest associations, collisional dissociation of diastereomeric complexes, and ion‐molecule reactions using chiral selectors have been developed. The ability to evaluate the performance of new chiral selector molecules by MS is particularly intriguing in this context; providing complementary technology to enantioselective gas‐ and liquid‐phase separation strategies already in place. Still, a number of question marks remain to be answered before these methods become commonplace. This review surveys the aspects of the mass spectrometric methods listed above and describes how they can be used to evaluate enantiomer discriminating systems. A short overview comparing the different ionization sources and mass analyzers which are used is also offered. Overall, we seek to address the advantages and limitations of each method, citing specific examples of their use from the literature, for the purpose of understanding what could be done to expand the scope of their implementation. In doing so, we also highlight some of those facets that relate directly to using MS for evaluating molecular recognition, and in particular, chiral molecular recognition systems.