Basic mass spectrometric investigations of amino acid‐fluorescamine derivatives

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Abstract
Mass spectra of fluorescamine derivatives of seventeen of the naturally occuring amino acids have been studied using electron ionization mass spectrometry. Seven fragmentation processes of fluorophors are proposed and elucidated by accurate mass measurements, stable isotope incorpor‐ation and low resolution spectra. Two major pathways contributed most of the predominant peaks in the mass spectra. All fragmentations involve specific rearrangements of the spiro ring, while some lose the amino acid sidechain. Identification of the amino acid is unequivocally established in the low resolution spectra. Loss of one oxygen atom from the dehydrated fluorophors was found for all compounds studied. The site of this loss was determined by incorporation of 18O into the carbonyl groups of fluorescamine.