Derivatization of small oligosaccharides prior to analysis by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization using glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride and Girard's reagent T

In matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) analyses of small oligosaccharides a very large increase in sensitivity (by a factor of 1000) may be obtained by introducing a quaternary ammonium center ('quaternization'). Such a quaternary ammonium center may be introduced into the saccharide by reaction with commercially available glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMA), or by using Girard's reagent T (Naven and Harvey, Rapid Commun. …