A sensitive method for the determination of the primary amide function (RCONH2) in peptides by mass spectrometry

Abstract

Several model peptides have been trimethylsilylated and their FIB mass spectra obtained; reaction was detected at hydroxy groups and primary amides only, amines and carboxy groups were observed in underivatised form, and thus, in conjunction with standard procedures for the determination of hydroxy groups, this methodology represents a sensitive and extremely rapid means for the detection of primary amides in such molecules.