Electrospray mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry of bimetallic oxovanadium complexes

A series of six bimetallic oxovanadium complexes (1-6; only one was purified) were investigated by electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) in negative-ion mode. Radical molecular anions [M](.-) were observed in MS mode. Fragmentation patterns of [M](.-) were proposed, and elemental compositions of most of the product ions were confirmed on the basis of the high-resolution ESI-CID-MS/MS spectra. A complicated series of low-abundance product ions similar to electron impact (EI) ionization spectra indicated the radical character of the precursor ions. Fragment ions at m/z 214, 200, and 182 seem to be the characteristic ions of bimetallic oxovanadium complexes. These ions implied the presence of a V-O-V bridge bond, which might contribute to stabilization of the radical. To obtain more information for structural elucidation, three representative bimetallic oxovanadium complexes (1-3) were analyzed further by MS in positive-ion mode. Positive-ion ESI-MS produced adduct ions of [M + H](+), [M + Na](+), and [M + K](+). The fragmentation patterns of [M + Na](+) were different than those of radical molecular anions [M](.-). Relatively simple fragmentation occurred for [M + Na](+), possibly due to even-electron ion character. Negative-ion MS and MS/MS spectra of the hydrolysis product of Complex 1 supported these finding, in particular, the existence of a V-O-V bridge bond.     

Electron impact ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry of phenylalkylpyridazines

The mass spectrometric fragmentation behaviour of pyridazine and four monosubstituted derivatives containing a pbenylalkyl side-chain (3- and 4-benizylpyridazine, 3- and 4-(2-pbenylethyl)pyridazine) was investigated. In the electron impact ionization mess spectra of the 3-substituted compounds abundant [M – H]⁺ peaks are observed. This allows a clear distinction between 3- and 4-substituted pyridazines, as the spectra of the latter isomers show only very weak [M – H]⁺ signals. The stability of [M – H]⁺ ions derived from 3-alkylpyridazines (deduced from only the very low abundance of further fragment ions) gives strong evidence for a cyclic structure of these ions. One fragmentation pathway typical of the parent pyridazine, the [M - N₂] fragmentation, was not detectable with any of the phenylalkylpyridazines investigated. Instead, loss of HCN, H₃CN⁺ and N²H⁺ was observed. An interesting fragmentation, observed with 3-(2-phenylethyl)pyridazine, is the loss of ⁺CH₃ from the molecular ion and also from the [M – H]⁺ ion.     

A double quadrupole for mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry

A double quadrupole mass spectrometer has been constructed to study unimolecular and collision-induced dissociation products from mass-selected ions. The two quadrupoles are closely coupled and the dissociation products sampled from a 2.5-mm interquadrupole region. Spectra obtained on the double quadrupole instrument are compared with published data obtained with triple quadrupole and reversed-sector (MIKE) mass spectrometers. The results indicate that the simple double quadrupole spectrometer is a highly efficient device which is a viable alternative to more complex quadrupole or sector instruments for obtaining dissociation spectra of mass-selected ions.     

Analytical mass spectrometry

A review is made of the basic theory, instrumentation and application of mass spectrometry, with special reference to the development of the equipment and its impact on the scope of application.     

Comparison of laser microprobe mass spectrometry and fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry for organic analysis

Both the techniques mentioned provide molecular weight and structural information, but laser microprobe mass spectrometry (LMMS) also provides greater control over the degree of fragmentation and enhanced sensitivity. In addition, LMMS allows microprobe analysis (i.e., spatial resolution of a few μm²) as well as providing quantitative measurements. The less energetic nature of fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) makes it more suitable for the analysis of highly labile polar compounds and high-mass biopolymers.     

Neuroscience and accelerator mass spectrometry

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is a mass spectrometric method for quantifying rare isotopes. It has had a great impact in geochronology and archaeology and is now being applied in biomedicine. AMS measures radioisotopes such as 3H, 14C, 26Al, 36Cl and 41Ca, with zepto- or attomole sensitivity and high precision and throughput, allowing safe human pharmacokinetic studies involving microgram doses, agents having low bioavailability or toxicology studies where administered doses must be kept low (<1 microg kg(-1)). It is used to study long-term pharmacokinetics, to identify biomolecular interactions, to determine chronic and low-dose effects or molecular targets of neurotoxic substances, to quantify transport across the blood-brain barrier and to resolve molecular turnover rates in the human brain on the time-scale of decades. We review here how AMS is applied in neurotoxicology and neuroscience.     

Comparison of flow injection analysis electrospray mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry and electrospray high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of underivatized amino acids

Twenty proteinogenic amino acids (AAs) were determined without derivatization using flow injection analysis followed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS) and electrospray ionization high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-FAIMS-MS and ESI-FAIMS-MS/MS), in positive and negative ionization modes. Three separate sets of ESI-FAIMS conditions were used for the separation and detection of the 20 AAs. Typically ESI-FAIMS-MS showed somewhat improved sensitivity and significantly better signal-to-noise ratios than ESI-MS mainly due to the elimination of background noise. However, the difference between ESI-FAIMS-MS and ESI-MS/MS was significantly less. ESI-FAIMS was able to partially or completely resolve all the isobaric amino acid overlaps such as leucine, isoleucine and hydroxyproline or lysine and glutamine. Detection limits for the amino acids in ESI-FAIMS-MS mode ranged from 2 ng/mL for proline to 200 ng/mL for aspartic acid. Overall, ESI-FAIMS-MS is the preferred method for the quantitative analysis of AAs in a hydrolyzed yeast matrix.     

Analysis of estrogens in river sediments by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. Comparison of tandem mass spectrometry and time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A method has been developed and optimised for the determination of two natural estrogens, estrone (E1) and 17beta-estradiol (E2), and one synthetic estrogen, 17alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2), in river sediments at the sub-ng/g level. This procedure includes microwave-assisted solvent extraction (MASE), solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with electrospray ionisation. Using sediments spiked with the three estrogens at 10 ng/g wet weight, efficient extraction (>92%) of all the three analytes was achieved by MASE, and whole-procedure recoveries ranged from 82 to 98%. Optimisation of the LC separation allowed for substantial reduction of ionisation suppression in the electrospray source to a final level of <18% suppression. Time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) and MS/MS were compared for the analysis of sediment extracts, with the latter technique proving to be the most selective. The method detection limits achieved by LC-MS/MS were 15, 30 and 40 pg/g for E1, E2 and EE2, respectively, which were 13-fold lower than those obtained by LC-TOF-MS. Analysis of river sediments collected from the River Ouse, UK, showed the presence of the natural estrogens at sub-ng/g level. E1 levels ranged from 0.40 ng/g (dry weight) to 3.30 ng/g while E2 levels ranged from <0.03 to 1.20 ng/g and EE2 was never detected (<0.04 ng/g).     

Analysis of sulfobutyl ether-beta-cyclodextrin mixtures by ion-spray mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-ion-spray mass spectrometry

A comparison is made of the retention properties of additives applied as positively charged pseudo-stationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography of neutral analytes. All additives have a quaternary ammonium as functional group. The polymeric additive [poly(N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-N-trimethylenehexamethylenediammonium), Polybrene] has a concentration of 2% (w/w) in the background electrolyte (acetate, pH 5.2). Monomeric octyltrimethylammonium (OTMA) was used at a concentration below or above its critical micelle concentration (CMC) (140 mmol/l). At a concentration (259 mmol/l) above the CMC the system is that normally used for micellar electrokinetic chromatography with cationic micelles. However, even below the CMC, where OTMA is present as monomer, retention of the neutral analytes is observed as well. In all systems coating of the capillary wall with Polybrene establishes an electroosmotic flow directed towards the anode, counter-migrating to the electrophoretic movement of the additive. Based on the measurement of the mobility of the analytes (15 small, monofunctional aromatic compounds with different functional groups), their capacity factors, k(i), were determined in all systems. Low correlation of the k(i) values is observed between the particular systems, indicating their different selectivity at least for individual pairs of analytes. Based on the log k(i) values, a linear free energy relationship was applied to elucidate the main types of chemical interaction responsible for retention. As a result, cavity formation and n or pi electron interactions were found being significant for the micellar OTMA system, which agrees with findings described in the literature for other (cationic and anionic) micellar systems. For the polymeric system and for the monomeric OTMA system, the significant retention parameter is indicating n and pi electron interactions.     

Ultra-sensitive radionuclide spectrometry: Radiometrics and mass spectrometry synergy

Summary Recent developments in radiometrics and mass spectrometry techniques for ultra-sensitive analysis of radionuclides in the marine environment are reviewed. In the radiometrics sector the dominant development has been the utilization of large HPGe detectors in underground laboratories with anti-cosmic or anti-Compton shielding for the analysis of short and medium-lived radionuclides in the environment. In the mass spectrometry sector, applications of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) for the analysis of long-lived radionuclides in the environment are the most important recent achievements. The recent developments do not only considerably decrease the detection limits for several radionuclides (up to several orders of magnitude), but they also enable to decrease sample volumes so that sampling, e.g., of the water column can be much easier and more effective. A comparison of radiometrics and mass spectrometry results for the analysis of radionuclides in the marine environment shows a reasonable agreement - within quoted uncertainties, for wide range of activities and different sample matrices analyzed.