In contrast to the derivatized mass spectra reported in Decker et al. and Ricardo et al. , the direct injection ESI-FT-ICR-MS spectrum suggests considerably more product diversity which warrants mechanistic explanation. This is in accord with Decker et al.'s observation that some 80% of the input HCHO in a FR is converted into non-volatile and/or non-derivitizable products. The in silico reaction simulation was limited by an arbitrary MW cutoff of 200 amu to economize computational load. This allowed the simulation to form carbohydrates up to hexoses, though the experimental spectra show that much higher MW products are generated in the FR (Figure ). The FR evidently also allows for the formation of a large number of side-products as evidenced by the ESI-FT-ICR-MS spectra presented in Fig. . The FR products in Generation 1 (G1) do not reach the 150 amu cutoff. 52 mass matches are seen in the in silico network for the FR experiments conducted at 85°C (see Figure ). The apparent presence of more than one dot per bar is due to the close spacing of the exact masses of products in some mass regions. Figure shows a closer view of the concordance of the model and measurement.