Structural analysis of poly[(R,S)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-L-lactide] copolyesters by electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry.

Two random copolyesters of poly[(R,S)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-L-lactide] (P[(R,S)-3HB-co-LA]), prepared by equimolar reaction of (R,S)-beta-butyrolactone with L-lactic acid and (R,S)-3-hydroxybutyric acid with L-lactide, respectively, were characterized by electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-ITMS). Detailed studies of these copolyesters were performed by means of collision-induced dissociation (CID). The molecular architecture of individual copolyester macromolecules, including chemical structures of their end groups (hydroxyl and carboxylate), were established on the basis of their ESI mass spectra. The influence of an intermolecular transesterification reaction on the microstructure of the copolyester synthesized by equimolar reaction of (R,S)-3-hydroxybutyric acid with L-lactide was observed. The mass spectra provided information on sequence distribution and indicated that, despite the synthetic pathway applied, random P[(R,S)-3HB-co-LA] copolyesters were formed predominantly. The arrangements of comonomer structural units along the copolyester chains were evaluated by the respective ESI-MS/MS fragmentation pathways.