Analysis of high molecular weight polyrotaxanes by MALDI-TOFMS using 3-aminoquinoline-based ionic liquid matrix.

Polyrotaxane (PR) is a necklace-like supramolecule composed of cyclic components, such as cyclodextrin (CD), and a threading polymer capped with bulky end groups. PR exhibits peculiar mechanical properties attributed to the intermolecular cross-links with CD. Various CD molecules threaded on a linear PEG chain are often modified with chemical groups to add specific physicochemical properties. In general, the stoichiometry between CD and the PEG chain is a significant parameter that defines the unique physical properties of CD-based polyrotaxane (CD-PR). To date, mass spectrometry (MS) has been applied to investigate the molecular distribution of CD-PR, modifications of CD, and the threaded ratio of CD. However, only molecular weights (MWs) up to several 10s of kDa can be subjected to such analysis, whereas the MW of CD-PR used as industrial materials is much greater. Herein, we applied two ionic liquid matrices composed of 3-aminoquinoline and a high mass detector to analyze PRs using MALDI-TOF-MS. High to very high MW PRs in the range of 90700 kDa were successfully analyzed using this method. The threaded ratio of CD was estimated from a single MW of CD, PEG, and PR. The ratios obtained were consistent with that obtained using H-1 NMR. Furthermore, a single-stranded form of PR in.cyclodextrin threaded PR (gamma CD-PR) was clearly distinguished from a double-stranded form, which is only possible in gamma CD-PR because of its large host cavity.