Surface-Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Opium Alkaloids

摘要

Surface ionization of the opium alkaloids morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine, and narcotine was investigated by mass spectrometry. It was shown that the alkaloid molecules were ionized with high efficiency through surface ionization. The mass spectra of morphine, codeine, and thebaine exhibited series of lines for quasimolecular ions with elimination of up to nine H atoms from the opiates that was accompanied by heterogeneous aromatization of the rings and their skeletal rearrangement. The results were compared with GC-MS data from electron ionization.