By on-line addition of a central atom (for example, Ag , B , Pd , Li ) positively or negatively charged complexes of analytes can be formed for CIS-MS. This technique is applicable to both polar and nonpolar compounds-for example, for alcohols, ethers, and a large number of olefins, polyolefins, and arenes as well as steroids, vitamins of the D and E families, carotinoids, polystyrols, terpenes, and unsaturated fatty acids-and can be readily coupled with separation techniques.