Characterization of polyfunctional alkoxysilanes using potassium ( K+) ionization of desorbed species mass spectrometry

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(96)06352-8

Potassium ionization of desorbed species (K⁺IDS) mass spectrometry has been used to characterize polyfunctional alkoxysilanes and the modes of reaction for 'star gel' precursors and simpler tetraalkoxysilanes. Efficient observation of molecular ions enabled by K⁺IDS can readily establish the purity of molecules such as Si(CH₂CH₂Si(OEt)₃)₄ and cyclo-(Me(CH₂CH₂Si(OEt)₃)₄SiO)₄, and has been highly useful in determining the extent of intramolecular condensation in the star molecules. K⁺IDS has also established the distributions of polysilicate species and the presence of important reactive intermediates containing SiOOCH groups when Si(OMe)₄ reacts with formic acid.