Study of the Cyanoacrylate Fuming Mechanism by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry

• NCJ Number: 253975
• Journal: Journal of Mass Spectrometry Volume: 54 Issue: 3 Dated: 2019 Pages: 222-226
• Author(s): Kelly C. O'Neill; Young J. Lee
• Date Published: 2019
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2016-DN-BX-0008; 2016-DN-BX-0190
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description

Annotation

Although cyanoacrylate fuming is widely used in the forensic science field, its mechanism is not well understood, so the current study used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry to study latent fingerprints that had been cyanoacrylate fumed, in order to analyze the fuming mechanism.

Abstract

In the negative mode mass spectrometry data, four compounds related to the polymerization of cyanoacrylate were identified, and their structures were determined from accurate mass and MS/MS. A mechanism is proposed for the formation of these compounds that are regarded as intermediates in the polymerization reaction. In addition, based on the fuming of standard endogenous compounds, this study suggests that fatty acids and amino acids are the major catalytic nucleophiles that initiate the polymerization reactions. (publisher abstract modified)