A Beginner's Guide to Mass Spectral Interpretation

This book is a logical, step-by-step guide to identification of organic compounds by mass spectrometry. The book is organized into chapters covering the major types of organic compounds, including alcohols, acids and esters, aldehydes and ketones, ethers, hydrocarbons, halogenated compounds, amines and amides, and sulfur-containing compounds. In each chapter, the mechanisms of the major fragmentation pathways are discussed, with reference to several simple sample compounds. By teaching the user to recognize typical fragmentations, the book removes the need to search databases, often limited, of electronic spectra. Key features of the book include:

* 200 representative spectra of common organic compounds

* Functional group approach to mass spectra interpretation

* Appendix of 'unknown' spectra with step-by-step guide to identification

This book is a must for anyone who needs to identify organic molecules by mass spectrometry but does not need to know the detailed workings of a mass spectrometer.