Formation and fragmentations of organometallic complexes involving aliphatic α‐amino acids and transition metal cations—a plasma desorption mass spectrometry study

Amino acid/transition metal chloride mixtures were studied by plasma desorption mass spectrometry. The six aliphatic α‐amino acids were considered: glycine (Gly), alanine (Ala), valine (Val), leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and proline (Pro), together with four transition metal chloride salts: CoCl₂, NiCl₂, CuCl₂ and FeCl₂. Mixtures spectra show that MCat⁺ complexes are formed where M = amino acid and Cat = Co, Ni, Cu or FeCl. Fragmentations of MCat⁺ ions lead to both organometallic and organic ions. Isotopic labelling has allowed to demonstrate some fragmentation mechanisms.