Characterization of chlorins within a natural chlorin mixture using electrospray/ion trap mass spectrometry

Chlorins in a sedimentary mixture were characterized, without prior isolation of individual components, using electrospray ionization combined with ion trap mass spectrometry. Collision‐induced dissociation in the atmospheric sampling interface and multi‐step mass spectrometry (i.e. MSn where n ⩾ 2) were used in order to obtain structural information about the macrocycle. Fragmentation pathways are proposed for different macrocycle types based on data from model chlorins. Three unknown chlorins (RMM = 888, 844 and 790) are assigned as having bacteriochlorophyll macrocycle types esterifled to unusual side‐chains (i.e. dihydrophytol for the unknown with a bacteriopheophorbide a structure, phytol and an alcohol with a molecular mass of 242 u for the two unknowns with a proposed bacteriopyropheophorbide d structure).