Californium-252 Plasma Desorption Mass Spectrometry as an Aid in the Synthesis of a Series of Adenosine and Xanthine Conjugates.

Two series of biologically active purine derivatives have been analyzed using californium-252 plasma desorption mass spectrometry. The series of compounds are adenosine agonists ( -phenyladenosine derivatives) and antagonists (8-phenyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine derivatives) at extracellular purine receptors. Included are receptor probes synthesized through successive chain elongation reactions. Positive and negative ion spectra are often dominated by signals from the quasimolecular ion [( + H), ( + Na), ( - H)] or by peaks resulting from loss of whole molecules such as ribose. The simplicity of sample preparation, spectrometer operation, and interpretation of spectra from the non-heated sample are demonstrated.