Application of Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to the elucidation of the primary structure of lignin

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was successfully applied to the structural analysis of lignin. The structure of oligomers fractionated from Eucalyptus globulus dioxane lignin was elucidated using tandem mass spectrometry, and the information on fragmentation patterns was provided by experiments on dimeric model compounds. Data obtained revealed a significant abundance in the lignin macromolecules of linear fragments that were composed of 8-O-4' linked syringyl/guaiacyl units and syringaresinol.