A Fragmentation Study on Four Oligostilbenes by Electrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Oligostilbenes have attracted much interest due to their intricate structures and diverse bioactivities. In this study, two stilbene dimers, (−)-7,8- cis - ε -viniferin ( 1 ) and carasiphenol A ( 2 ), and two trimers, suffruticosol A ( 3 ) and suffruticosol C ( 4 ), were investigated by electrospray ionization ion-trap time-of-flight multistage mass spectrometry (ESI-IT-TOF-MS n ). Based on the MS n study, the fragmentation pathways and diagnostic ions of four oligostilbenes in both positive and negative modes were proposed. The consecutive elimination of phenol (C 6 H 6 O) and resorcinol (C 6 H 6 O 2 ) moieties were the particular dissociation for oligostilbenes due to the presence of 1,2-diphenylethylene nucleus. The present MS n fragmentation study will provide valuable information for the fast characterization of oligostilbenes from complicated natural mixtures. Graphical Abstract