Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of end-functionalized saccharidic polymers: an example of a useful analytical technique combination.

The living cationic polymerization of a saccharidic monomer (1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-6-O-(2-vinyloxyethyl)-D-galactopyranose, GVE) gives rise to aldehyde end-capped polymers (PGVE--CHO) of low molar masses (<10 000 Da) and low molar mass distribution (<1.2). These polymers were derivatized by selective introduction of either hexamethylenediamine (PGVE-NH2) or 9-fluorenylmethyl carbazate (PGVE-Fmoc) end groups. The resulting polymers were fully characterized by complementary use of nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). The expected structure according to the polymerization mechanism, the occurrence of side reactions and the success of the post-functionalization reactions were confirmed.