https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.12510
Serial product ions from dissociation or bimolecular reaction of selected precursor ions where \(n\) refers to the number of stages of dissociation or bimolecular reaction in a series of consecutive reactions that involve successive product ions.
Note: Given the sequential fragmentation scheme: \[\ce{M1^{+} -> M2^{+} -> M3^{+} -> M4^{+} -> M5^{+}}\] \(\ce{M4^{+}}\) is the precursor ion of \(\ce{M5^{+}}\), a 1st-generation product ion of \(\ce{M3^{+}}\), a 2nd-generation product ion of \(\ce{M2^{+}}\), and a 3rd-generation product ion of \(\ce{M1^{+}}\).
See also: nth-generation product ion spectrum