Formation of Peptide Radical Cations (M<Superscript>+·</Superscript>) in Electron Capture Dissociation of Peptides Adducted with Group IIB Metal Ions

Peptides adducted with different divalent Group IIB metal ions (Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Hg²⁺) were found to give very different ECD mass spectra. ECD of Zn²⁺ adducted peptides gave series of c-/z-type fragment ions with and without metal ions. ECD of Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺ adducted model peptides gave mostly a-type fragment ions with M^+• and fragment ions corresponding to losses of neutral side chain from M^+•. No detectable a-ions could be observed in ECD spectra of Zn²⁺ adducted peptides. We rationalized the present findings by invoking both proton-electron recombination and metal-ion reduction processes. As previously postulated, divalent metal-ions adducted peptides could adopt several forms, including (a) [M + Cat]²⁺, (b) [(M + Cat – H) + H]²⁺, and (c) [(M + Cat – 2H) + 2H]²⁺. The relative population of these precursor ions depends largely on the acidity of the metal–ion peptide complexes. Peptides adducted with divalent metal-ions of small ionic radii (i.e., Zn²⁺) would form predominantly species (b) and (c); whereas peptides adducted with metal ions of larger ionic radii (i.e., Hg²⁺) would adopt predominantly species (a). Species (b) and (c) are believed to be essential for proton-electron recombination process to give c-/z-type fragments via the labile ketylamino radical intermediates. Species (c) is particularly important for the formation of non-metalated c-/z-type fragments. Without any mobile protons, species (a) are believed to undergo metal ion reduction and subsequently induce spontaneous electron transfer from the peptide moiety to the charge-reduced metal ions. Depending on the exothermicity of the electron transfer reaction, the peptide radical cations might be formed with substantial internal energy and might undergo further dissociation to give structural related fragment ions.     

Transition Metal Ions: Charge Carriers that Mediate the Electron Capture Dissociation Pathways of Peptides

Electron capture dissociation (ECD) of model peptides adducted with first row divalent transition metal ions, including Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺, were investigated. Model peptides with general sequence of ZGGGXGGGZ were used as probes to unveil the ECD mechanism of metalated peptides, where X is either V or W; and Z is either R or N. Peptides metalated with different divalent transition metal ions were found to generate different ECD tandem mass spectra. ECD spectra of peptides metalated by Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were similar to those generated by ECD of peptides adducted with alkaline earth metal ions. Series of c-/z-type fragment ions with and without metal ions were observed. ECD of Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺ adducted peptides yielded abundant metalated a-/y-type fragment ions; whereas ECD of Cu²⁺ adducted peptides generated predominantly metalated b-/y-type fragment ions. From the present experimental results, it was postulated that electronic configuration of metal ions is an important factor in determining the ECD behavior of the metalated peptides. Due presumably to the stability of the electronic configuration, metal ions with fully-filled (i.e., Zn²⁺) and half filled (i.e., Mn²⁺) d-orbitals might not capture the incoming electron. Dissociation of the metal ions adducted peptides would proceed through the usual ECD channel(s) via “hot-hydrogen” or “superbase” intermediates, to form series of c-/z ^•- fragments. For other transition metal ions studied, reduction of the metal ions might occur preferentially. The energy liberated by the metal ion reduction would provide enough internal energy to generate the “slow-heating” type of fragment ions, i.e., metalated a-/y- fragments and metalated b-/y- fragments.     

Besonderheiten beim massenspektroskopischen Fragmentierungsverhalten von alkylsubstituierten Porphyrin- und Phthalocyanin-Metall(II)-Komplexen

From the fragmentation behavior of alkyl substituted porphyrins and phthalocyanines and their metal complexes it can be seen that in contrast to, e.g., acetylacetonates or oxinates in most cases the complexed metal ion does not influence the fragment formation since ionisation occurs by removal of an electron from a ring orbital. Exceptions are porphyrin complexes of Mn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ where apparently a metal-3d-orbital is involved. The danger of misinterpretation regarding the loss of even electron fragments actually caused by pyrolytic processes is pointed out.

Herrn Prof. Dr.Karl Schlögl zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Electron Capture Dissociation of Trivalent Metal Ion-Peptide Complexes

With electrospray ionization from aqueous solutions, trivalent metal ions readily adduct to small peptides resulting in formation of predominantly (peptide + M_T ? H)²⁺, where M_T = La, Tm, Lu, Sm, Ho, Yb, Pm, Tb, or Eu, for peptides with molecular weights below ~1000 Da, and predominantly (peptide + M_T)³⁺ for larger peptides. ECD of (peptide + M_T ? H)²⁺ results in extensive fragmentation from which nearly complete sequence information can be obtained, even for peptides for which only singly protonated ions are formed in the absence of the metal ions. ECD of these doubly charged complexes containing M_T results in significantly higher electron capture efficiency and sequence coverage than peptide-divalent metal ion complexes that have the same net charge. Formation of salt-bridge structures in which the metal ion coordinates to a carboxylate group are favored even for (peptide + M_T)³⁺. ECD of these latter complexes for large peptides results in electron capture by the protonation site located remotely from the metal ion and predominantly c/z fragments for all metals, except Eu³⁺, which undergoes a one electron reduction and only loss of small neutral molecules and b/y fragments are formed. These results indicate that solvation of the metal ion in these complexes is extensive, which results in the electrochemical properties of these metal ions being similar in both the peptide environment and in bulk water.      

Building [2]Catenanes around a Tris(diimine)ruthenium(2+) ([Ru(diimine)3]2+) Complex Core Used as Template

In the course of the last two decades, the use of transition metals as templates for constructing catenanes has almost exclusively been restricted to tetrahedral copper(I). The present work is dealing with an octahedral metal, ruthenium(II), coordinated to three bidentate chelates. Incorporation of two chelates (1,10‐phenanthroline) in a ring allows to prepare a C₂‐symmetric ruthenium complex, the two chelates being disposed cis to one another (see 14 ²⁺ and 16 ²⁺ in Scheme 5 and 6, resp.). The ring is large enough to accomodate a third chelate, thus allowing the metal‐directed threading of a long fragment containing the third chelate (2,2′‐bipyridine derivative; see 23 ²⁺ and 24 ²⁺ in Scheme 8). The last step consists of a ring‐closing metathesis reaction with two terminal olefins. The two ruthenium(II)‐complexed catenanes 25 ²⁺ and 26 ²⁺ were prepared by using this strategy, each containing a 42‐membered ring interlocked to a larger macrocycle (50‐ or 63‐membered ring) incorporating the two 1,10‐phenanthroline chelates. It is expected that these catenanes can be set in motion under light‐irradiation, thus behaving as photochemically driven molecular machines.     

Difference of Electron Capture and Transfer Dissociation Mass Spectrometry on Ni<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-, Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-, and Zn<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-Polyhistidine Complexes in the Absence of Remote Protons

Electron capture dissociation (ECD) and electron transfer dissociation (ETD) in metal-peptide complexes are dependent on the metal cation in the complex. The divalent transition metals Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺ were used as charge carriers to produce metal-polyhistidine complexes in the absence of remote protons, since these metal cations strongly bind to neutral histidine residues in peptides. In the case of the ECD and ETD of Cu²⁺-polyhistidine complexes, the metal cation in the complex was reduced and the recombination energy was redistributed throughout the peptide to lead a zwitterionic peptide form having a protonated histidine residue and a deprotonated amide nitrogen. The zwitterion then underwent peptide bond cleavage, producing a and b fragment ions. In contrast, ECD and ETD induced different fragmentation processes in Zn²⁺-polyhistidine complexes. Although the N–C_α bond in the Zn²⁺-polyhistidine complex was cleaved by ETD, ECD of Zn²⁺-polyhistidine induced peptide bond cleavage accompanied with hydrogen atom release. The different fragmentation modes by ECD and ETD originated from the different electronic states of the charge-reduced complexes resulting from these processes. The details of the fragmentation processes were investigated by density functional theory.

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Solid-phase extraction of Pb2+ ion from environmental samples onto L-AC-Ag-NP by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS)

The development of a solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure for the pre-concentration of trace amounts of Pb²⁺ ion on 2-furan-2-yl-1-furan-2-ylmethyl-1H-benzoimidazole loaded on activated carbon modified with silver nanoparticles (L-AC-Ag-NP) was presented. The metal ion retained on the sorbent was quantitatively determined via complexation with the ligand. The complexed metal ion was efficiently eluted using 10 mL of 4 mol L^?1 sulphuric acid in 10 w/v% acetone. The influences of the analytical parameters, including pH, amounts of the ligand and the solid phase, eluent conditions and sample volume, on the recoveries of the metal ion were optimised. Using the optimised parameters, the linear response of the SPE method for Pb²⁺ ion were in the ranges of 0.2–160 µg L^?1, and the detection limit for Pb²⁺ ion was 0.034 µg L^?1. The proposed method exhibits a pre-concentration factor (PF) of 80 and an enhancement factor of 30 for Pb²⁺ ion. The presented results demonstrate the successful application of the proposed method for the determination of Pb²⁺ ion in some real samples with high recoveries (>93%) and reasonable relative standard deviation (RSD < 2%).     

Mixed ligand complexes of palladium(II) and platinum(II) with methionine and 2,4-disubstituted pyrimidines

Summary Mixed ligand complexes ofcis-[M(MetH)Cl₂] (M=Pd²⁺ and Pt²⁺; MetH=methionine) with 2,4-disubstituted pyrimidines were prepared and characterised. Thecis-[Pd(MetH)Cl₂] complex reacted with cytosine (2-hydroxy-4-aminopyrimidine), isocytosine (2-amino-4-hydroxypyrimidine) and thiocytosine (2-thio-4-amino-pyrimidine) to form ternary complexes.cis-[Pt(MetH)Cl₂] however reacted with cytosine, uracil (2,4-pyrimidine dione or 2,4-dihydroxypyrimidine) to yield the corresponding mixed ligand complexes. The primary ligand, methionine, binds to the metal ion through sulphur and amino nitrogenvia a six membered chelate ring. The secondary ligands (substituted pyrimidines) bind to the Pd²⁺ or Pt²⁺ metal ion through the ring nitrogen (N₃), as monodentate ligand. Thiocytosine however acts as a bidentate ligand, coordinating to the metal ion through-SH and ring nitrogen (N₃). All complexes are 11 electrolytes, except the thiocytosine complex, which is a 12 electrolyte.     

Molecular Assembly Directed by Metal–Aromatic Interactions: Control of the Aggregation and Photophysical Properties of Zn–Salen Complexes by Aromatic Mercuration

There is widespread interest in non‐covalent bonding and weak interactions, such as electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, solvophobic/hydrophobic interactions, metal–metal interactions, and π–π stacking, to tune the molecular assembly of planar π‐conjugated organic and inorganic molecules. Inspired by the roles of metal–aromatic interaction in biological systems, such as in ion channels and metalloproteins, herein, we report the first example of the use of Hg²⁺–aromatic interactions to selectively control the assembly and disassembly of zinc–salen complexes in aqueous media; moreover, this process exhibited significant “turn on” fluorescent properties. UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopic analysis of the titration of Hg²⁺ ions versus complex ZnL¹ revealed that the higher binding affinity of Hg²⁺ ions (compared to 13 other metal ions) was ascribed to specific interactions between the Hg²⁺ ions and the phenyl rings of ZnL¹ ; this result was also confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and HRMS (ESI). Further evidence for this type of interaction was obtained from the reaction of small‐molecule analogue L¹ with Hg²⁺ ions, which demonstrates the proximity of the N‐alkyl group to the aromatic protons during Hg²⁺‐ion binding, which led to the consequential H/D exchange reaction with D₂O. DFT modeling of such interactions between the Hg²⁺ ions and the phenyl rings afforded calculated distances between the C and Hg atoms (2.29 Å) that were indicative of C? Hg bond‐formation, under the direction of the N atom of the morpholine ring. The unusual coordination of Hg²⁺ ions to the phenyl ring of the metallosalen complexes not only strengthened the binding ability but also increased the steric effect to promote the disassembly of ZnL¹ in aqueous media.     

Transition metals as electron traps. II. Structures,energetics and electron transfer dissociations of ternary Co,Ni and Zn–peptide complexes in the gas phase

Transition metal cations Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ form 1 : 1 : 1 ternary complexes with 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy) and peptides in aqueous methanol solutions that have been studied for tripeptides GGG and GGL. Electrospray ionization of these solutions produced singly charged [Metal(bpy)(peptide ? H)]⁺ and doubly charged [Metal(bpy)(peptide)]²⁺ ions (Metal = metal ion) that underwent charge reduction by glancing collisions with Cs atoms at 50 and 100 keV collision energies. Electron transfer to [Metal(bpy)(peptide)]²⁺ ions was less than 4.2 eV exoergic and formed abundant fractions of non‐dissociated charge‐reduced intermediates. Charge‐reduced [Metal(bpy)(peptide)]⁺ ions dissociated by the loss of a hydrogen atom, ammonia, water and ligands that depended on the metal ion. The Ni and Co complexes mainly dissociated by the elimination of ammonia, water, and the peptide ligand. The Zn complex dissociated by the elimination of ammonia and bpy. A sequence‐specific fragment was observed only for the Co complex. Electron transfer to [Metal(bpy)(peptide ? H)]⁺ was 0.6–1.6 eV exoergic and formed intermediate radicals that were detected as stable anions after a second electron transfer from Cs. [Metal(bpy)(peptide ? H)] neutrals and their anions dissociated by the loss of bpy and peptide ligands with branching ratios that depended on the metal ion. Optimized structures for several spin states, electron transfer and dissociation energies were addressed by combined density functional theory and Møller–Plesset perturbational calculations to aid interpretation of experimental data. The experimentally observed ligand loss and backbone cleavage in charge‐reduced [Metal(bpy)(peptide)]⁺ complexes correlated with the dissociation energies at the present level of theory. The ligand loss in ⁺CR^? spectra showed overlap of dissociations in charge‐reduced [Metal(bpy)(peptide ? H)] complexes and their anionic counterparts which complicated spectra interpretation and correlation with calculated dissociation energies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cis→Trans Isomerization of Pro<Superscript>7</Superscript> in Oxytocin Regulates Zn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Binding

Ion mobility/mass spectrometry techniques are employed to investigate the binding of Zn²⁺ to the nine-residue peptide hormone oxytocin (OT, Cys¹-Tyr²-Ile³-Gln⁴-Asn⁵-Cys⁶-Pro⁷-Leu⁸-Gly⁹-NH₂, having a disulfide bond between Cys¹ and Cys⁶ residues). Zn²⁺ binding to OT is known to increase the affinity of OT for its receptor [Pearlmutter, A. F., Soloff, M. S.: Characterization of the metal ion requirement for oxytocin-receptor interaction in rat mammary gland membranes. J. Biol. Chem. 254, 3899–3906 (1979)]. In the absence of Zn²⁺, we find evidence for two primary OT conformations, which arise because the Cys⁶–Pro⁷ peptide bond exists in both the trans- and cis-configurations. Upon addition of Zn²⁺, we determine binding constants in water of K_A = 1.43 ± 0.24 and 0.42 ± 0.12 μM^?1, for the trans- and cis-configured populations, respectively. The Zn²⁺ bound form of OT, having a cross section of Ω = 235 Ų, has Pro⁷ in the trans-configuration, which agrees with a prior report [Wyttenbach, T., Liu, D., Bowers, M. T.: Interactions of the hormone oxytocin with divalent metal ions. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 5993–6000 (2008)], in which it was proposed that Zn²⁺ binds to the peptide ring and is further coordinated by interaction of the C-terminal, Pro⁷-Leu⁸-Gly⁹-NH₂, tail. The present work shows that the cis-configuration of OT isomerizes to the trans-configuration upon binding Zn²⁺. In this way, the proline residue regulates Zn²⁺ binding to OT and, hence, is important in receptor binding.

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A New Fluorescent Chemosensor for Cu2+ Based on a Dianthracene-Derivative

Abstract

Besides being of interest in photochemistry, photoinduced electron transfer (PET) is a process largely used in the design of fluorescent ion sensing molecules. One of the simplest systems is based on fluorescent aromatic groups linked to amino groups and proposed as possible fluorescent transition metal ion chemosensor [1]. In this case, the fluorescence of the fluorophore “ligths on” when the amino group is complexed. On the other hand, in the absence of metal ions, the fluorescence is quenched by a PET originating from the nitrogen lone electron pairs [2]. We prepared a new fluorescent chemosensor, abbreviated as Ant-NH-O-O-NH-Ant (shown in Fig. 1) in which the intramolecular PET is expected to be efficient. The chemosensor consists of a metal-binding dioxodiamino unit linked to two light-emitting anthracene fragments. This type of supramolecules when irradiated in methanol solution (conc. 1.89—10^?5 M.) at 368 nm displays a characteristic fluorescence spectrum for anthracene group with the most intensive band at 415 nm [Fig. 2(a)]. The emission is slightly enhanced upon coordination of such metal ions as Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ by the ligand fragment of the Ant-NH-O-O-NH-Ant molecule [Fig. 2(b) and (d)]. However, much higher intensity of emission is observed in the case of Cu²⁺ complex [see Fig 2(c)]. The fluorescence enhancement is presumably due to suppression of photoinduced fluorophore-to-metal electron-transfer mechanism.     

The transformation from 2°‐amine to 3°‐amine of cyclam ring alters the fragmentation patterns of 1‐tosylcytosine‐cyclam conjugates

The novel N‐1‐sulfonylcytosine‐cyclam conjugates 1 and 2 conjugates are ionized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) in positive and negative modes (ES⁺ and ES⁻) as singly protonated/deprotonated species or as singly or doubly charged metal complexes. Their structure and fragmentation behavior is examined by collision induced experiments. It was observed that the structure of the conjugate dictated the mode of the ionization: 1 was analyzed in ES⁻ mode while 2 in positive mode. Complexation with metal ions did not have the influence on the ionization mode. Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ complexes with ligand 1 followed the similar fragmentation pattern in negative ionization mode. The transformation from 2°‐amine in 1 to 3°‐amine of cyclam ring in 2 leads to the different fragmentation patterns due to the modification of the protonation priority which changed the fragmentation channels within the conjugate itself. Cu²⁺ ions formed complexes practically immediately, and the priority had the cyclam portion of the ligand 2 . The structure of the formed Zn²⁺ complexes with ligand 2 depended on the number of 3° amines within the cyclam portion of the conjugate and the ratio of the metal:ligand used. The cleavage of the cyclam ring of metal complexes is driven by the formation of the fragment that suited the coordinating demand of the metal ions and the collision energy applied. Finally, it was shown that the structure of the cyclam conjugate dictates the fragmentation reactions and not the metal ions.     

Electron capture dissociation mass spectrometry of metallo-supramolecular complexes

The electron capture dissociation (ECD) of metallo-supramolecular dinuclear triple-stranded helicate Fe₂L₃⁴⁺ ions was determined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Initial electron capture by the di-iron(II) triple helicate ions produces dinuclear double-stranded complexes analogous to those seen in solution with the monocationic metal centers Cu^I or Ag^I. The gas-phase fragmentation behavior [ECD, collision-induced dissociation (CID), and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD)] of the di-iron double-stranded complexes, (i.e., MS³ of the ECD product) was compared with the ECD, CID, and IRMPD of the Cu^I and Ag^I complexes generated from solution. The results suggest that iron-bound dimers may be of the form Fe₂^IL₂²⁺ and that ECD by metallo-complexes allows access, in the gas phase, to oxidation states and coordination chemistry that cannot be accessed in solution.     

Topoisomer Differentiation of Molecular Knots by FTICR MS: Lessons from Class II Lasso Peptides

Lasso peptides constitute a class of bioactive peptides sharing a knotted structure where the C-terminal tail of the peptide is threaded through and trapped within an N-terminal macrolactam ring. The structural characterization of lasso structures and differentiation from their unthreaded topoisomers is not trivial and generally requires the use of complementary biochemical and spectroscopic methods. Here we investigated two antimicrobial peptides belonging to the class II lasso peptide family and their corresponding unthreaded topoisomers: microcin J25 (MccJ25), which is known to yield two-peptide product ions specific of the lasso structure under collision-induced dissociation (CID), and capistruin, for which CID does not permit to unambiguously assign the lasso structure. The two pairs of topoisomers were analyzed by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR MS) upon CID, infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD), and electron capture dissociation (ECD). CID and ECD spectra clearly permitted to differentiate MccJ25 from its non-lasso topoisomer MccJ25-Icm, while for capistruin, only ECD was informative and showed different extent of hydrogen migration (formation of c•/z from c/z•) for the threaded and unthreaded topoisomers. The ECD spectra of the triply-charged MccJ25 and MccJ25-lcm showed a series of radical b-type product ions ( b￠_n ^· ) \left( {b{\prime}_n^{ \bullet }} \right) . We proposed that these ions are specific of cyclic-branched peptides and result from a dual c/z• and y/b dissociation, in the ring and in the tail, respectively. This work shows the potentiality of ECD for structural characterization of peptide topoisomers, as well as the effect of conformation on hydrogen migration subsequent to electron capture.     

Natural structural motifs that suppress peptide ion fragmentation after electron capture

Series of doubly and triply protonated diarginated peptide molecules with different number of glutamic acid (E) and asparagine (N) residues were analyzed under ECD conditions. ECD spectra of doubly-protonated peptides show a strong dependence on the number of E and N residues. Both the backbone cleavages and hydrogen radical (H^•) loss from the charge-reduced precursor ions ([M+2H]^+•) were suppressed as the number of E and N residues increases. A strong inhibition of the backbone cleavages and H^• loss from [M+2H]^+• was found for peptides with 6E residues (or 4E + 2N residues). The results obtained using these model peptides were re-confirmed by analyzing N-arginated Fibrinopeptide-B (i.e., REGVNDNEEGFFSAR). In contrast to the N-arginated peptide, ECD of the doubly-protonated Fibrinopeptide-B and its analogues show extensive backbone cleavages leading to series of c- and z-ions (∼80% sequence coverage). Based on these results, it is believed that peptide ions with all surplus protons sequestered in arginine-residues would show enhanced stability under ECD conditions as the number of acid-residue increases. The suppression of backbone cleavages and H^• loss from [M+2H]^+• are presumably attributed to the low reactivity of the charge-reduced precursor ions. One of the possible hypothesis is that diarginated E-rich peptides may contain hydrogen bonds between carbonyl oxygen of E side chains and backbone amide hydrogen. These hydrogen bonds would provide extra stabilization for [M+2H]^+•. This is the first demonstration of natural structural motifs in peptides that would inhibit the backbone fragmentation of the charge-reduced peptide ions under ECD conditions.     

Characterization of permethylated β-cyclodextrin-peptide noncovalently bound complexes using electron capture dissociation mass spectrometry (ECD MS)

Electron capture dissociation mass spectrometry (ECD MS) was carried out for a number of β-permethylated cyclodextrin (CD)-peptide noncovalent complexes in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer. Examined peptides included Angiotensin II (DRVYIHPF), Substance P (RPKPQQFFGLM), and Bradykinin (RPPGFSPFR) and its analogs (PPGFSPFR and RPPGFSPF). ECD MS for doubly protonated complexes [M:CD+2H]²⁺ mainly yielded cleavage of the backbones of the constituent peptide with little disassembly of a peptide and β-CD. Analysis of ECD MS fragments indicated that a protonated basic amino-acid residue or N-terminal amino group interacted more favorably with β-CD than did aromatic group-containing amino-acid residues (inclusion complex). In contrast to the formation of inclusion CD complexes in solution, we observed no specific evidence from our ECD MS mass spectra to support the generation of phenyl inclusion complexes in the gas phase. For gas-phase peptides, we suggest that ion–dipole interaction is the main driving force for the formation of noncovalent β-CD complexes rather than phenyl inclusion interactions.     

Chiral discrimination of β‐3‐homo‐amino acids using the kinetic method

Chiral discrimination of seven enantiomeric pairs of β‐3‐homo‐amino acids was studied by using the kinetic method and trimeric metal‐bound complexes, with natural and unnatural α‐amino acids as chiral reference compounds and divalent metal ions (Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺) as the center ions. The β‐3‐homo‐amino acids were selected for this study because, first of all, chiral discrimination of β‐amino acids has not been extensively studied by mass spectrometry. Moreover, these β‐3‐homo‐amino acids studied have different aromatic side chains. Thus, the emphasis was to study the effect of the side chain (electron density of the phenyl ring, as well as the difference between phenyl and benzyl side chains) for the chiral discrimination. The results showed that by the proper choice of a metal ion and a chiral reference compound, all seven enantiomeric pairs of β‐3‐homo‐amino acids could be differentiated. Moreover, it was noted that the β‐3‐homo‐amino acids with benzyl side chains provided higher enantioselectivity than the corresponding phenyl ones. However, increasing or decreasing the electron density of the aromatic ring by different substituents in both the phenyl and benzyl side chains had practically no role for chiral discrimination of β‐3‐homo‐amino acids studied. When copper was used as the central metal, the phenyl side chain containing reference molecules (S)‐2‐amino‐2‐phenylacetic acid (L ‐Phg) and (S)‐2‐amino‐2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐acetic acid (L ‐4′‐OHPhg) gave rise to an additional copper‐reduced dimeric fragment ion, [Cu^I(ref)(A)]⁺. The inclusion of this ion improved noticeably the enantioselectivity values obtained. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of synthetic N-acetylcysteine conjugates by positive- and negative-ion 252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry

N-Acetylcysteine and nine N-acetylcysteine conjugates of synthetic origin were characterized by positive- and negative-ion plasma desorption mass Spectrometry. For sample preparation the electrospray technique and the nitrocellulose spin deposition technique were applied. The fragmentation of these compounds, which are best seen as S-substituted desaminoglycylcysteine dipeptides, shows a similar behaviour to that of linear peptides. In the positive-ion mass spectra intense protonated molecular ion peaks are observed. In addition, several sequence-specific fragment ions (A⁺, B⁺, [Y + 2H]⁺, Z⁺), immonium ions (I⁺) and a diagnostic fragment ion for mercap-turic acids (R_M⁺) are detected. The negative-ion mass spectra exhibit deprotonated molecular ions and in contrast only one fragment ion corresponding to side-chain specific cleavage ([R_XS]^?) representing the xenobiotic moiety. In the case of a low alkali metal concentration on the target, cluster molecular ions of the [nM + H]⁺ or [nM - H]^? ion type (n = 1-3) are observed. The analysis of an equimolar mixture of eight N-acetylcysteine conjugates shows different quasi-molecular ion yields for the positive- and negative-ion spectra.     

Self‐Assembled Multimetallic/Peptide Complexes: Structures and Unimolecular Reactions of [Mn(GlyGly−H)2n−1]+ and Mn+1(GlyGly−H2n]2+ Clusters in the Gas Phase

The unimolecular chemistry and structures of self‐assembled complexes containing multiple alkaline‐earth‐metal dications and deprotonated GlyGly ligands are investigated. Singly and doubly charged ions [M_n(GlyGly?H)_n‐1]⁺ (n=2–4), [M_n+1(GlyGly?H)_2n]²⁺ (n=2,4,6), and [M(GlyGly?H)GlyGly]⁺ were observed. The losses of 132 Da (GlyGly) and 57 Da (determined to be aminoketene) were the major dissociation pathways for singly charged ions. Doubly charged Mg²⁺ clusters mainly lost GlyGly, whereas those containing Ca²⁺ or Sr²⁺ also underwent charge separation. Except for charge separation, no loss of metal cations was observed. Infrared multiple photon dissociation spectra were the most consistent with the computed IR spectra for the lowest energy structures, in which deprotonation occurs at the carboxyl acid groups and all amide and carboxylate oxygen atoms are complexed to the metal cations. The N?H stretch band, observed at 3350 cm^?1, is indicative of hydrogen bonding between the amine nitrogen atoms and the amide hydrogen atom. This study represents the first into large self‐assembled multimetallic complexes bound by peptide ligands.