Electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry of poly [(R,S)-3-hydroxybutanoic acid] telechelics containing primary hydroxy end groups

Evaluation of polymer end-capping reactions with the aid of electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry techniques (ESI-MS(n)) allows characterisation of novel poly[(R, S)-3-hydroxybutanoic acid]-(a-PHB) telechelics, containing primary hydroxyl groups at both polymer chain ends. The chemical structures of individual mass-selected macromolecules of the well-defined a-PHB telechelics have been defined in this way, and fragmentation mechanisms have been proposed.