Handling considerations for the mass spectrometry of reactive organometallic compounds.

Mass spectrometry is a powerful tool in disparate areas of chemistry, but its characteristic strength of sensitivity can be an Achilles heel when studying highly reactive organometallic compounds. A quantity of material suitable for mass spectrometric analysis often represents a tiny grain or a very dilute solution, and both are highly susceptible to decomposition due to ambient oxygen or moisture. This complexity can be frustrating to chemists and analysts alike: the former being unable to get spectra free of decomposition products and the latter often being poorly equipped to handle reactive samples.