ESI‐MS & MS/MS Analysis of Poly(2‐oxazoline)s with Different Side Groups

Abstract ESI‐Q‐TOF MS has been used for the detailed characterization of various poly(2‐oxazoline)s with different side groups (i.e. methyl, ethyl, 1‐ethylpentyl, phenyl, o ‐difluorophenyl and p‐tert‐ butylphenyl) to evaluate this method as structural characterization tool for the detailed analysis of poly(2‐oxazoline)s. The results obtained provided an understanding of the fragmentation of poly(2‐oxazoline)s, revealing the elimination of small molecules such as ethene and hydrogen in their fragmentation patterns, which are partially dependent on the side groups. Also, a McLafferty rearrangement can be a possible fragmentation route for these polymers. In detail, side group elimination was only observed for poly(2‐alkyl‐2‐oxazoline)s, but not for poly(2‐aryl‐2‐oxazoline)s. magnified image