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The development of innovative, efficient ionization techniques allowing a careful desorption of even complex molecules has provided mass spectrometry with the breakthrough in the direct analysis of polymers. Applicable in various disciplines and yet more powerful than almost any other method, the spectrum of compounds investigated ranges from macromolecular chemistry via biochemistry right up to molecular biology. In this way, suitable mass spectroscopic techniques determine not only the primary structure of proteins but also provide an insight into their spatial structure, even allowing structural and functional analyses. The simplicity of electrospray MS for analyzing non-covalent biomacromolecular complexes opens up brand new perspectives for supramolecular chemistry as well as molecular recognition processes. Furthermore, MS has even found its place in DNA sequencing as a fast but simple alternative to conventional methods.
In his book, the internationally renowned expert, Michael Przybylski, provides a comprehensive overview of this still relatively young methodology, which will soon be as much an integral part of polymer structural analysis as X-rays and NMR spectroscopy.