Confirmation of New, High-mass Saponins fromGleditsia japonicaby Field Desorption Mass Spectrometry*

Abstract
The molecular weights and complete sugar sequences have been determined in saponins carrying 3 to 8 free sugars. The results are in agreement with parallel chemical and instrumental analyses of the triterpenoid saponins derived from Gleditsia japonica. The capacity and limitations of field desorption mass spectrometry in structural elucidation of substituted oligoglycosides are described.