Characterization of Hydrogen-Bonded Supramolecular Assemblies by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry after Ag+ Labeling.

The high affinity of Ag+ ions for aromatic π donors and cyano groups is exploited in a novel MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric method for the identification of hydrogen-bonded assemblies. The interaction with the Ag+ ions-which, for example, can be complexed by two phenyl groups in a sandwich-type manner (see drawing on the right)-provides positively charged assemblies in a nondestructive way.