Electrospray Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry was used to investigate chiral molecular recognition of tropine using α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin and γ-cyclodextrin, as chiral selectors. Chiral recognition ability of three cyclodextrins was revealed by the mass spectra based on the protonated complexes of tropine with cyclodextrins. Protonated tropine ion was formed when the dimeric complex of tropine with cyclodextrin underwent collision-induced dissociation (CID). Chiral recognition of cyclodextrin was assessed by changing activation attenuation/activation pulse length.

Key words: cyclodextrin, complex, electrospray, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry